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Renowned for his long facial beard, ponytail, and western sun hat, Dr. Robert T. Bakker is regarded as one of the most dynamic and outspoken American paleontologists of the 1970s generation who revolutionized dinosaur theories. Alongside a select group of colleagues with unconventional views, he championed the concept of dynamic, warm-blooded dinosaurs. Previously, paleontologists believed these giant creatures were sluggish and regulated their body temperature like reptiles by basking in the sun. Bakker's proposition that many dinosaur species were endothermic and led active, energetic lives gained rapid acceptance, despite strong criticism from some peers. He also hypothesized that communicable diseases might have caused the mass dinosaur extinction and strongly advocated the idea that birds evolved from dinosaurs. Bakker's assertive personality and willingness to publicly defend his views have made him a sought-after speaker and dinosaur consultant. Notably, he consulted on Steven Spielberg's "Jurassic Park" series, where the character Dr. Robert Burke, introduced and later killed off, clearly paid homage to Bakker.
Born on March 24, 1945, in New Jersey, Bakker attended Yale University and earned his PhD from Harvard. Much of his fieldwork has been conducted in Wyoming’s Como Bluff, across North America, and at select international sites. Beginning his career as a scientific illustrator, he incorporated this skill into his best-known book, "The Dinosaur Heresies," published in 1986. Throughout his career, Bakker has served as a curator and educator at numerous institutions, including the University of Colorado, The Tate Museum, The Colorado Museum of Natural History, and The Houston Museum of Natural Science. He has been particularly dedicated to linking several museums in Colorado and Wyoming to enhance the interpretation and study of ancient environments.
Bakker has been married four times. He has been described as a preacher, teacher, rebel, artist, and a persistent challenge to conventional scientific views on his favorite subject. In addition to his scientific talents, Bakker is a Pentecostal preacher with deep knowledge of the Old Testament. His reputation for sparking scientific debate is well known, especially given that many of his theories have been validated over time. He has appeared in numerous dinosaur documentaries and continues to push the boundaries of paleontological science.
