Virtual Fossils: a New Resource for Science Communication in Paleontology
Virtual Fossils: a New Resource for Science Communication in Paleontology
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DOI：
10.1007/s12052-012-0458-2
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发表时间：
2012-11
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
Imran A. Rahman;Keith Adcock;R. Garwood
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Imran A. Rahman;Keith Adcock;R. Garwood
计算机辅助化石 3D 重建或虚拟古生物学是一种日益常见且强大的技术。它现在经常用于古生物学研究，但迄今为止对公众宣传和科学传播影响甚微；然而，它非常适合这些目的，越来越便宜和可用，充满活力和令人兴奋，并且适用于一系列主题。在这里，我们介绍了该领域，并对其在公众参与活动中的使用进行了案例研究。概述了创建此类教育资源所涉及的步骤，包括计算机断层扫描、数字可视化和化石 3D 打印。我们强调虚拟化石对于科学传播的价值；它们允许在各种主题上采用不同的学习方式。未来，我们希望虚拟古生物学能够成为传播生命历史的中流砥柱，从而促进对进化论的准确理解。
Computer-aided 3-D reconstruction of fossils, or virtual paleontology, is an increasingly common and powerful technique. It is now regularly used for research in paleontology, yet to date has impacted little on public outreach and science communication; however, it is ideally suited for these purposes, being increasingly cheap and available, dynamic and exciting, and applicable to a range of topics. Here, we provide an introduction to the field, and a case study of its use for a public engagement event. The steps involved in creating such an educational resource are outlined, and include computed tomography scanning, digital visualization, and 3-D printing of fossils. We emphasize the value of virtual fossils for science communication; they allow for diverse learning styles in a variety of topics. In the future, we hope that virtual paleontology will become a mainstay of communicating the history of life, thereby promoting accurate understanding of evolution.