Robert Bakker

Robert Bakker is famous for being a major proponent of the theory that dinosaurs were warm-blooded, highly active creatures rather than sluggish reptiles. His ideas helped completely revolutionize the field of modern paleontology during the Dinosaur Renaissance. He published his groundbreaking theories in the journal Nature in 1969.

Bakker popularized his theories to a wide audience with his 1986 book "The Dinosaur Heresies." The book detailed his arguments for warm-blooded dinosaurs and their evolutionary link to modern birds. It is considered required reading for amateur dinosaur enthusiasts.

Yes, Robert Bakker served as an informal scientific consultant for Michael Crichton during the writing of the original "Jurassic Park" novel. He was also famously parodied as the bearded character Dr. Robert Burke in Steven Spielberg's sequel film, "The Lost World: Jurassic Park." In the movie, the Burke character is tragically eaten by a T-Rex.

Robert Bakker was born in 1945. He became a central figure in the field of vertebrate paleontology by the 1970s, advocating for the active, dynamic view of dinosaurs. He did much of his seminal research under the mentorship of John Ostrom at Yale University.