Prof Maria McNamara, Professor of paleontology in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at University College Cork joins me this week. Maria’s research focuses on the preservation and paleobiology of exceptionally preserved fossils with particular interests in soft tissues and fossil colour.
She speaks to me about her Granny's influence on her at a young age to explore the natural world and how she still considers herself a 'curious child'. Maria discusses leaving academia to work as a geopark geologist in the Burren, what that experience taught her and what drew her back into academic life.
Her passion for paleontology is evident from the first moment you listen to this episode. She explains why she wants to extract biological information from fossils, her interest in the evolutionary functions of feathers and the importance of insect colour in communication. Maria also discusses her latest projects on melanin and how this may have implications on human health.
Finally Maria also chats about her exciting new project 'Irelands Fossil Heritage' and her passion for science communication. This episode is bursting with interesting facts and inspiring advice, I really hope you all enjoy.
This is the last episode before Christmas - Back on Jan 4th!
Follow Maria: MariaMcN_palaeo
Follow me: MeganHanlon4
This season is kindly sponsored by Bio-Sciences Ltd, now part of Thermo-Fisher Scientific.
Episode 28: Dr Clíona Ní Cheallaigh: Inclusion Health, Ageing and Collaboration
Episode 27: Prof Des Tobin: Dermatology, Hair Follicles and Accurate Modelling
Episode 26: Assoc Prof Tara McMorrow: Kidney Disease, Toxicology and Lockdown Learning
Episode 25: Prof Kingston Mills: T Cells, Vaccines and Athletics
Episode 24: Prof Cormac Taylor: Hypoxia, Chronic Inflammation and Music
Episode 23: Prof Paul Peter Tak: Rheumatology, Real Impact and Comfort Zones
Episode 22: Dr Elizabeth Wayne: Immunoengineering, Cancer & #BlackInImmuno
Episode 21: Prof Alan Kelly: Dairy Science, Food and Science Communication
Episode 20: Prof Jacintha O'Sullivan: GI Cancer, Tumour Microenvironment and Translational Research
Episode 19: Prof John O'Connor - Memory, Electrophysiology and Lighthouses
Episode 18: Prof Emma Teeling - Bats, Ageing and Coronavirus
Episode 17: Brian Pennie - Neuropsychology, Addiction and Mindfulness
Episode 16: Prof Laoise McNamara - Mechanobiology, Osteoporosis and Effective Communication
Episode 15: Prof Marina Lynch - Alzheimer's Disease, Neuroinflammation and Memory
Episode 14: Dr Tom Flanagan - Tissue Engineering, Heart Valves and GAA
Episode 13: Prof Christine Loscher - Immune Health, Nutrition and Mentorship
Episode 12: Dr Dave Finlay - Nutrients, Metabolic Balance and Baking
Episode 11: Dr Evanna Mills - Thermogenesis, Immunometabolism and Moral Battles
Episode 10: Prof Ursula Fearon - Arthritis, Inflammation and Translational Research
Episode 9: Sean Mooney - Black Holes, Galaxies and Telescopes
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