DinoFest Keynote: Daniel Ksepka, Ph. D.

Sunday, January 26, 12:00 - 12:55 p.m.

Diving Into the World of Fossil Penguins

Penguins have plied the oceans for over 60 million years. These remarkable birds arose from flying ancestors but gave up flight to become flippered divers. Their fossil record reveals many unexpected twists and turns along this evolutionary journey: "giant" species weighing over 200lbs, spear-billed species, and penguins with red and grey feathers. The fossil record also reveals that today, penguins have reached their lowest point in species diversity, reinforcing conservation concerns for imperiled populations.

About the Speaker

Daniel Ksepka, Ph. D., serves as Curator at the Bruce Museum. His research focuses on the phylogenetic relationships and evolution of wing-propelled diving in penguins. Ksepka also contributes to the study of avian brain evolution and the paleoecology of the giant bony-toothed Pelagornithidae. He enjoys sharing natural history discoveries through exhibitions at the Bruce Museum and writing for American Scientist and Scientific American.