ETSU professor featured on History Channel
Patrick Hawkins
Issue date: 9/22/08 Section: The Scene
Only researchers are allowed into the collections area of the Smithsonian, so there might be an effort made by the production company to portray a sensational conspiracy theory of the research going on. Schubert explained that this was certainly not the case.
"When it comes to paleontology, I don't think you have to do that," Schubert said. "It already is cool, but too often they try to make it more than it is by adding things that sound like facts."
The second show is fantastic in a different way. It is called Jurassic Fight Club and portrays hypothetical encounters between extinct animals. As the name suggests, most episodes are about dinosaurs.
However, as Schubert's area of expertise is mammals, he was called in for the irregular episode exploring the conflict between the "giant short-faced bear, which stood about 5 feet tall to the shoulder while on all fours, to the American lion, which was basically a beefed-up version of the African lion."
For digital media students, you'll be happy to know that this episode has been postponed because they are having a hard time with the digital re-creation of the bear.
It should be airing sometime this fall.
The media exposure is a sure sign that programs are growing and flourishing at ETSU. For professors here, the main goal is to contribute publications to scholarly journals and run a world-class fossil site and museum.
Another goal is to educate students or anyone else interested, and appearing on popular television shows is one very good way to do that.
Schubert said he is very excited about seeing the finished product on TV, although he admits that he is nervous to see if he will be accurately represented.
It has to make a researcher anxious to provide interviews then not have any say in how they are edited and used.
Paleontologists are also not accustomed to being filmed in front of a green screen with makeup, but for anyone as excited as he is about fossils, it is a great opportunity.
As he said, "It's good exposure for the university, for paleontology, and it's just fun to talk about."
"When it comes to paleontology, I don't think you have to do that," Schubert said. "It already is cool, but too often they try to make it more than it is by adding things that sound like facts."
The second show is fantastic in a different way. It is called Jurassic Fight Club and portrays hypothetical encounters between extinct animals. As the name suggests, most episodes are about dinosaurs.
However, as Schubert's area of expertise is mammals, he was called in for the irregular episode exploring the conflict between the "giant short-faced bear, which stood about 5 feet tall to the shoulder while on all fours, to the American lion, which was basically a beefed-up version of the African lion."
For digital media students, you'll be happy to know that this episode has been postponed because they are having a hard time with the digital re-creation of the bear.
It should be airing sometime this fall.
The media exposure is a sure sign that programs are growing and flourishing at ETSU. For professors here, the main goal is to contribute publications to scholarly journals and run a world-class fossil site and museum.
Another goal is to educate students or anyone else interested, and appearing on popular television shows is one very good way to do that.
Schubert said he is very excited about seeing the finished product on TV, although he admits that he is nervous to see if he will be accurately represented.
It has to make a researcher anxious to provide interviews then not have any say in how they are edited and used.
Paleontologists are also not accustomed to being filmed in front of a green screen with makeup, but for anyone as excited as he is about fossils, it is a great opportunity.
As he said, "It's good exposure for the university, for paleontology, and it's just fun to talk about."
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