Interview: Phillip Manning | National Geographic

I was about five or six years old when

I was about five or six years old when my parents first took me to the

my parents first took me to the

my parents first took me to the nutrition Museum in London and I

nutrition Museum in London and I

nutrition Museum in London and I remembered like any kid being dragged

remembered like any kid being dragged

remembered like any kid being dragged into another wanna go there would have

into another wanna go there would have

into another wanna go there would have been a boring Museum and I member

been a boring Museum and I member

been a boring Museum and I member dragged in through the door and suddenly

dragged in through the door and suddenly

dragged in through the door and suddenly I was faced with this vast dinosaurs

I was faced with this vast dinosaurs

I was faced with this vast dinosaurs looking at going it was I still remember

looking at going it was I still remember

looking at going it was I still remember I can still remember exactly that moment

I can still remember exactly that moment

I can still remember exactly that moment and I looked at this huge Diplodocus it

and I looked at this huge Diplodocus it

and I looked at this huge Diplodocus it was the Carnegie Diplodocus which had

was the Carnegie Diplodocus which had

was the Carnegie Diplodocus which had been donated to the nati schmooze iam

been donated to the nati schmooze iam

been donated to the nati schmooze iam and from that moment on I was hooked on

and from that moment on I was hooked on

and from that moment on I was hooked on dinosaurs but that was when we lived

dinosaurs but that was when we lived

dinosaurs but that was when we lived near London and we moved down to the

near London and we moved down to the

near London and we moved down to the southwest of England and when I was

southwest of England and when I was

southwest of England and when I was about six or seven years old and in my

about six or seven years old and in my

about six or seven years old and in my garden I started finding fossils and if

garden I started finding fossils and if

garden I started finding fossils and if you hear something you might forget it

you hear something you might forget it

you hear something you might forget it as the old proverb say and if you see

as the old proverb say and if you see

as the old proverb say and if you see something you might know it but by

something you might know it but by

something you might know it but by actually doing you can really understand

actually doing you can really understand

actually doing you can really understand and by actually finding fossils in my

and by actually finding fossils in my

and by actually finding fossils in my dad’s garden I was beginning to

dad’s garden I was beginning to

dad’s garden I was beginning to understand more and more about this trip

understand more and more about this trip

understand more and more about this trip life on Earth and I was completely

life on Earth and I was completely

life on Earth and I was completely hooked I think it’s every paleontologist

hooked I think it’s every paleontologist

hooked I think it’s every paleontologist dream to work on a fossil which has that

dream to work on a fossil which has that

dream to work on a fossil which has that little bit extra information and when

little bit extra information and when

little bit extra information and when one of my students who is doing her

one of my students who is doing her

one of my students who is doing her master’s with me had spent the summer

master’s with me had spent the summer

master’s with me had spent the summer digging with Tyler she came back with

digging with Tyler she came back with

digging with Tyler she came back with this wonderful story of a dinosaur with

this wonderful story of a dinosaur with

this wonderful story of a dinosaur with skin impressions or so they thought at

skin impressions or so they thought at

skin impressions or so they thought at the time and I drove out well flu then

the time and I drove out well flu then

the time and I drove out well flu then drove up to North Dakota to see this

drove up to North Dakota to see this

drove up to North Dakota to see this fossil for myself and it was then I

fossil for myself and it was then I

fossil for myself and it was then I realized this was a remarkable fossil

realized this was a remarkable fossil

realized this was a remarkable fossil that I had to work on I have to admit

that I had to work on I have to admit

that I had to work on I have to admit the first time that Tyler brought me to

the first time that Tyler brought me to

the first time that Tyler brought me to the mummy site in North Dakota and we’re

the mummy site in North Dakota and we’re

the mummy site in North Dakota and we’re driven across the Badlands in this

driven across the Badlands in this

driven across the Badlands in this battered noisy old Ford pickup and you

battered noisy old Ford pickup and you

battered noisy old Ford pickup and you arrived at the site and when the engine

arrived at the site and when the engine

arrived at the site and when the engine is turned off and you’re greeted with

is turned off and you’re greeted with

is turned off and you’re greeted with apps

apps

apps lewd silence it’s beautiful and then the

lewd silence it’s beautiful and then the

lewd silence it’s beautiful and then the smell of the sagebrush hits you and then

smell of the sagebrush hits you and then

smell of the sagebrush hits you and then you’re very aware where you’re putting

you’re very aware where you’re putting

you’re very aware where you’re putting every single foot on the ground and

every single foot on the ground and

every single foot on the ground and trying to make as much noise as possible

trying to make as much noise as possible

trying to make as much noise as possible because you’re invading where wildlife

because you’re invading where wildlife

because you’re invading where wildlife lives you’re the invader and I remember

lives you’re the invader and I remember

lives you’re the invader and I remember the first time we went to the site this

the first time we went to the site this

the first time we went to the site this vast rattlesnake was SAT there going oh

vast rattlesnake was SAT there going oh

vast rattlesnake was SAT there going oh and it disappeared off of course because

and it disappeared off of course because

and it disappeared off of course because they’re more frightened of you than we

they’re more frightened of you than we

they’re more frightened of you than we are of them probably but we’re very

are of them probably but we’re very

are of them probably but we’re very grateful when such creatures leave dig

grateful when such creatures leave dig

grateful when such creatures leave dig sites because again it’s one of the

sites because again it’s one of the

sites because again it’s one of the hazards of being in the field the thing

hazards of being in the field the thing

hazards of being in the field the thing with the dinosaur mummy it opens up a

with the dinosaur mummy it opens up a

with the dinosaur mummy it opens up a whole new area of research for

whole new area of research for

whole new area of research for paleontology because it’s like filling

paleontology because it’s like filling

paleontology because it’s like filling in the gaps which would be missing for

in the gaps which would be missing for

in the gaps which would be missing for so many years when you’re trying to

so many years when you’re trying to

so many years when you’re trying to reconstruct skeletons into living

reconstruct skeletons into living

reconstruct skeletons into living animals when you have a skin covering

animals when you have a skin covering

animals when you have a skin covering for instance it helps constrain the

for instance it helps constrain the

for instance it helps constrain the volume of muscle groups for instance

volume of muscle groups for instance

volume of muscle groups for instance which are critical when you’re trying to

which are critical when you’re trying to

which are critical when you’re trying to calculate how fast a dinosaur go now in

calculate how fast a dinosaur go now in

calculate how fast a dinosaur go now in the past we’ve had to guess where these

the past we’ve had to guess where these

the past we’ve had to guess where these muscles fit how big they are whereas

muscles fit how big they are whereas

muscles fit how big they are whereas when you’ve got a skin envelope which

when you’ve got a skin envelope which

when you’ve got a skin envelope which sort of fits over the tail and you know

sort of fits over the tail and you know

sort of fits over the tail and you know how big the muscle groups are which like

how big the muscle groups are which like

how big the muscle groups are which like the main engine of the dinosaur it’s

the main engine of the dinosaur it’s

the main engine of the dinosaur it’s it’s so important when you’re doing

it’s so important when you’re doing

it’s so important when you’re doing locomotion studies and dr. bill sellers

locomotion studies and dr. bill sellers

locomotion studies and dr. bill sellers who I work with at the University of

who I work with at the University of

who I work with at the University of Manchester he’s made it an art form of

Manchester he’s made it an art form of

Manchester he’s made it an art form of making dinosaurs walk using his

making dinosaurs walk using his

making dinosaurs walk using his high-powered computers which have

high-powered computers which have

high-powered computers which have enabled us to basically make this

enabled us to basically make this

enabled us to basically make this hadrosaur run at something like 28 miles

hadrosaur run at something like 28 miles

hadrosaur run at something like 28 miles per hour based upon the evidence we can

per hour based upon the evidence we can

per hour based upon the evidence we can extract from this remarkable fossil

what we try to do with this study is

what we try to do with this study is introduce new technologies to

introduce new technologies to

introduce new technologies to paleontology because paleontology is

paleontology because paleontology is

paleontology because paleontology is often perceived as a group of guys in a

often perceived as a group of guys in a

often perceived as a group of guys in a hole covered in dirt digging the bones

hole covered in dirt digging the bones

hole covered in dirt digging the bones out and what we are showing with this

out and what we are showing with this

out and what we are showing with this research and there’s many research

research and there’s many research

research and there’s many research programs like this across the world but

programs like this across the world but

programs like this across the world but we’re applying state-of-the-art

we’re applying state-of-the-art

we’re applying state-of-the-art technology and we’re trying to use

technology and we’re trying to use

technology and we’re trying to use techniques which are traditionally not

techniques which are traditionally not

techniques which are traditionally not used in paleontology because that’s when

used in paleontology because that’s when

used in paleontology because that’s when you can really start that steep learning

you can really start that steep learning

you can really start that steep learning curve discovering totally new things to

curve discovering totally new things to

curve discovering totally new things to science that’s what’s excites me North

science that’s what’s excites me North

science that’s what’s excites me North Dakota today is beautiful i love the

Dakota today is beautiful i love the

Dakota today is beautiful i love the Badlands is weathering Hell Creek

Badlands is weathering Hell Creek

Badlands is weathering Hell Creek Formation with the sort of classic sand

Formation with the sort of classic sand

Formation with the sort of classic sand and muddy boots which whether a way to

and muddy boots which whether a way to

and muddy boots which whether a way to reveal these beautiful dinosaur bones

reveal these beautiful dinosaur bones

reveal these beautiful dinosaur bones and it can be quite a harsh climate

and it can be quite a harsh climate

and it can be quite a harsh climate today in North Dakota from the harsh

today in North Dakota from the harsh

today in North Dakota from the harsh winters to the really hot summers

winters to the really hot summers

winters to the really hot summers however back in the times when the Hell

however back in the times when the Hell

however back in the times when the Hell Creek Formation was still being

Creek Formation was still being

Creek Formation was still being deposited it was a very very different

deposited it was a very very different

deposited it was a very very different place it was closer to the equator then

place it was closer to the equator then

place it was closer to the equator then it was a very tropical environment not

it was a very tropical environment not

it was a very tropical environment not much grass around there is evidence now

much grass around there is evidence now

much grass around there is evidence now the grass had actually evolved by the

the grass had actually evolved by the

the grass had actually evolved by the end of the Cretaceous but the dominant

end of the Cretaceous but the dominant

end of the Cretaceous but the dominant types of plants which have been plenty

types of plants which have been plenty

types of plants which have been plenty of them would have been cycads ferns

of them would have been cycads ferns

of them would have been cycads ferns palms and some broadleaf plants

palms and some broadleaf plants

palms and some broadleaf plants flowering plants like magnolias for

flowering plants like magnolias for

flowering plants like magnolias for instance it would have been quite a

instance it would have been quite a

instance it would have been quite a dense forested area on a floodplain

dense forested area on a floodplain

dense forested area on a floodplain which regularly this huge River which

which regularly this huge River which

which regularly this huge River which was meandering across this blood plane

was meandering across this blood plane

was meandering across this blood plane might have burst its banks due to

might have burst its banks due to

might have burst its banks due to seasonal floods and so on and as a

seasonal floods and so on and as a

seasonal floods and so on and as a result any animals on this floodplain

result any animals on this floodplain

result any animals on this floodplain would have actually been carried and

would have actually been carried and

would have actually been carried and buried within these flood waters so it’s

buried within these flood waters so it’s

buried within these flood waters so it’s a very very different place Torres today

being in the field is a bit like boot

being in the field is a bit like boot camp paleo boot camp you you can

camp paleo boot camp you you can

camp paleo boot camp you you can actually start at five o’clock in the

actually start at five o’clock in the

actually start at five o’clock in the morning said if you’re specially in a

morning said if you’re specially in a

morning said if you’re specially in a really hot climate because you want to

really hot climate because you want to

really hot climate because you want to avoid the heat of the day because you at

avoid the heat of the day because you at

avoid the heat of the day because you at midday you want to be out of the Sun

midday you want to be out of the Sun

midday you want to be out of the Sun unless you’re English of course does any

unless you’re English of course does any

unless you’re English of course does any mad dogs and englishmen go running

mad dogs and englishmen go running

mad dogs and englishmen go running around in the midday Sun I do might

around in the midday Sun I do might

around in the midday Sun I do might account for my behavior sometimes but in

account for my behavior sometimes but in

account for my behavior sometimes but in terms of the actual ha

terms of the actual ha

terms of the actual ha reality of being in the field you’ve got

reality of being in the field you’ve got

reality of being in the field you’ve got to be very aware of the issues of the

to be very aware of the issues of the

to be very aware of the issues of the locality where you’re working whether it

locality where you’re working whether it

locality where you’re working whether it be rattlesnakes or whether it be rock

be rattlesnakes or whether it be rock

be rattlesnakes or whether it be rock falls or just the general health and

falls or just the general health and

falls or just the general health and safety in the field is something which

safety in the field is something which

safety in the field is something which you have to keep always in your mind

you have to keep always in your mind

you have to keep always in your mind especially when you got a big team crew

especially when you got a big team crew

especially when you got a big team crew of people working during the excavations

of people working during the excavations

of people working during the excavations I’ve been doing in northern Spain for

I’ve been doing in northern Spain for

I’ve been doing in northern Spain for instance many of the rock faces we’ve

instance many of the rock faces we’ve

instance many of the rock faces we’ve been working on and lidar scanning their

been working on and lidar scanning their

been working on and lidar scanning their vertical and you’re dealing with quite

vertical and you’re dealing with quite

vertical and you’re dealing with quite severe rock falls sometimes and if

severe rock falls sometimes and if

severe rock falls sometimes and if you’re at the bottom of this vertical

you’re at the bottom of this vertical

you’re at the bottom of this vertical slope which you’re mapping and you’ve

slope which you’re mapping and you’ve

slope which you’re mapping and you’ve got a few tons of rubble coming towards

got a few tons of rubble coming towards

got a few tons of rubble coming towards you it can make life very entertaining

you it can make life very entertaining

you it can make life very entertaining so it’s it sounds very romantic but it’s

so it’s it sounds very romantic but it’s

so it’s it sounds very romantic but it’s not it’s actually quite harsh the

not it’s actually quite harsh the

not it’s actually quite harsh the reality of it is is very very hard work

reality of it is is very very hard work

reality of it is is very very hard work is one thing it does keep me as fit

is one thing it does keep me as fit

is one thing it does keep me as fit because to get into the field each year

because to get into the field each year

because to get into the field each year is very very physically hard work so and

is very very physically hard work so and

is very very physically hard work so and that’s something I enjoy about it as

that’s something I enjoy about it as

that’s something I enjoy about it as well

I don’t work for a living I live for

I don’t work for a living I live for work I’m very lucky doing what I do and

work I’m very lucky doing what I do and

work I’m very lucky doing what I do and there are millions of kids out there who

there are millions of kids out there who

there are millions of kids out there who wanted to be dinosaur hunters and I was

wanted to be dinosaur hunters and I was

wanted to be dinosaur hunters and I was one of them and everyone asked me why

one of them and everyone asked me why

one of them and everyone asked me why did you become a fossil hunter because

did you become a fossil hunter because

did you become a fossil hunter because I’m passionate about paleo I think it’s

I’m passionate about paleo I think it’s

I’m passionate about paleo I think it’s one of the most wonderful stories on the

one of the most wonderful stories on the

one of the most wonderful stories on the planet that’s why I became a

planet that’s why I became a

planet that’s why I became a paleontologist but how I fit all the

paleontologist but how I fit all the

paleontologist but how I fit all the different facets of my life into sort of

different facets of my life into sort of

different facets of my life into sort of one chunk means sometimes you do end up

one chunk means sometimes you do end up

one chunk means sometimes you do end up working 18 20 hour days seven days a

working 18 20 hour days seven days a

working 18 20 hour days seven days a week but I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t

week but I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t

week but I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t love it I do a lot of work at the

love it I do a lot of work at the

love it I do a lot of work at the mansion museum at the University of

mansion museum at the University of

mansion museum at the University of Manchester where I do quite a lot of

Manchester where I do quite a lot of

Manchester where I do quite a lot of public lectures and outreach programs

public lectures and outreach programs

public lectures and outreach programs sort of promoting science to as wide an

sort of promoting science to as wide an

sort of promoting science to as wide an audience as possible and I also teach

audience as possible and I also teach

audience as possible and I also teach butter at paleontology and evolution and

butter at paleontology and evolution and

butter at paleontology and evolution and various other courses are for the

various other courses are for the

various other courses are for the undergraduate program at the University

undergraduate program at the University

undergraduate program at the University of Manchester so that’s quite a big

of Manchester so that’s quite a big

of Manchester so that’s quite a big portion from june until well from

portion from june until well from

portion from june until well from january till june each year however from

january till june each year however from

january till june each year however from june until december is when I bury

june until december is when I bury

june until december is when I bury myself into research and fieldwork and I

myself into research and fieldwork and I

myself into research and fieldwork and I can be in the field for up to three or

can be in the field for up to three or

can be in the field for up to three or maybe even four months in a year and we

maybe even four months in a year and we

maybe even four months in a year and we have projects running in northern Spain

have projects running in northern Spain

have projects running in northern Spain in Catalonia we have projects running in

in Catalonia we have projects running in

in Catalonia we have projects running in North America we have other sites which

North America we have other sites which

North America we have other sites which we’re looking to work on in China which

we’re looking to work on in China which

we’re looking to work on in China which we’re hoping to collaborate on in the

we’re hoping to collaborate on in the

we’re hoping to collaborate on in the future and we also have projects which

future and we also have projects which

future and we also have projects which we’re looking to collaborate with folks

we’re looking to collaborate with folks

we’re looking to collaborate with folks in Argentina as well so it makes life

in Argentina as well so it makes life

in Argentina as well so it makes life very very busy but what a ride