Civic Theatre of Allentown Allentown, PA
Dr. David Sunderlin
Associate Professor of Geology, Lafayette College
Jurassic Park— An Exploration of Paleontology
Program Description
The program featured hands-on activities with the Da Vinci Science Center and a discussion of how paleontology is nested in geology.
Presented At
Civic Theatre of Allentown Allentown, PA
Film Synopsis
During a preview tour, a theme park suffers a major power breakdown that allows its cloned dinosaur exhibits to run amok.
Two dinosaur experts, Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), are invited by eccentric millionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) to preview his new amusement park on an island off Costa Rica. By cloning DNA harvested from prehistoric insects, Hammond's scientists have recreated living dinosaurs for the exhibits. Accompanied by a cynical mathematician who is obsessed with chaos theory (Jeff Goldblum) and the millionaire’s two grandchildren (Joseph Mazzello, Ariana Richards), the experts are sent on a tour through the resort in computer-controlled touring cars. But as a tropical storm hits the island, knocking out the power supply, an unscrupulous employee (Wayne Knight) sabotages the system so he can smuggle dinosaur embryos out of the park, and the dinosaurs rage out of control. Based on the novel by Michael Crichton, Steven Spielberg directed the first installment of this epic sci-fi adventure film.
About the Speaker
Dr. David Sunderlin is an associate professor of geology at Lafayette College. He received a BA in geology and biology from Colgate University, and a PhD in geophysical sciences from the University of Chicago. Dr. Sunderlin received the James P. Crawford Award and the Student Government Superior Teaching Award.