My buddy the rock star
Work in Progress by Ivan Morgan
This week I celebrate the accomplishments of Memorial University in general, and specifically the remarkable accomplishments of a fellow from CBS, Dr. Rod Taylor (full disclosure, he is a buddy of mine). I am happy because Rod and his colleagues are the reason why we need a university.
What did they do? As part of their research, they discovered the oldest fossilized animals to date, creatures that lived 570 million years ago (325 million years before the dinosaurs), right here in our province. Port Union to be precise. This has made the news around the world.
The creatures they found (well, technically Rod found them) are jellyfish type creatures that lived on a sea floor long, long ago. Long before there was a Newfoundland, or for that matter, an Atlantic Ocean.
Sorry to use a silly phrase overused by politicians, governments and communications people, but this is actually a “world class” discovery. World class work by local folks.
More full disclosure – I am a paleontological groupie. That is to say, I am fascinated by paleontology – the study of ancient life. I read about it for fun. I read Rod and his colleague’s paper about it. Let me offer you a taste: “The Ediacaran of eastern Newfoundland preserves the world’s oldest known eumetazoan body fossils, as well as the earliest known record of fossilized muscular tissue…”
Okay, I know. That’s enough.
Regular readers of my column will remember my rants about the university. We give them $375 million a year with no strings and they turn around and refuse to sing the Ode to Newfoundland because, well, they think they are better than you and I. And yet we suck it up because the university is far more important than the fools who run the place.
Rod and his colleagues are the ones who do the actual work. And they do it for the sheer love of it. If you ever get a chance to see Rod give a talk about his work, even if you don’t care a whiff for fossils, you are likely to be caught up in his enthusiasm.
The university is full of capable scientists, researchers and teachers. The paleontological team are poster children for the university. Not pompous, self-important or self-righteous, just capable, passionate and dedicated.
This is important science. Period. It is work that gives Memorial, and us, great prestige internationally.
For those of you who still don’t really care, I’ll make another argument. Everyone in CBS knows of the Manuels River Interpretation Centre. Years ago, the Manuals River was just a river with some cool fossils some educated day trippers could check out. I know, I was one of them. Over time, enough people showed enough interest to make something of it. Today it draws people, especially schoolkids and tourists, and creates employment in the community.
Above and beyond the importance of science for science’s sake, the work of MUN’s fossil hunters is an investment in the future. This new discovery could have economic benefits for the future of the area.
Are we talking big bucks? No. Our oil and gas industry is where we find the big bucks in fossils (oil and gas are fossilized hydrocarbons). For areas facing economic hardship, however, finds like these can develop a handsome cottage industry.
The problem is our province is notoriously slow at recognizing and developing such things. Mistaken Point way down on the Southern Shore, is a case in point. Deemed a UNESCO world heritage site, people – tourists included – drive from town, see the sights, and drive back. My guess is they’d stay if folks made it worth their while, generating local employment and revenue.
In my opinion it takes way too long for the potential of these sites to be appreciated, but we live in hope. Nonetheless Dr. Rod Taylor and his colleagues have made that important first step. They found the site.
On his Facebook site you will find pictures of Rod, an amateur musician, posing with his guitar. I’ve never asked him, but I bet like many of us, as a boy he dreamed of being a rock star. If you think about it, he kind of is.
Ivan Morgan can be reached at ivan.morgan@gmail.com