Profiles

José Luis Sanz knew he liked dinosaurs thanks to films. From a very young age, he innocently thought he could find dinosaur remains in the region where he was born (Soria). Although he didn't find anything, as a good researcher he did find fossil remains of other species. Remains he collected and which would later motivate him to follow these traces professionally. Sanz became, as he well defines himself, a 'dinomaniac'.

Therefore, he got his BA (1975) and his PhD (1980) in geological sciences at the University Complutense of Madrid and has ended up as professor of palaeontology at the Autonomous University of Madrid as well as becoming a member of the Royal Academy of Exact Sciences, Physical and Natural. He is also technical director of the palaeontology museums of Elche and Arnedo.

Sanz García is the proud author and co-author of eight new dinosaur genres. He has also exploited his facet as a writer with a great number of publications in prestigious international magazines and books that have even been translated into several languages. Some examples are: Dinosaurs. Masters of the past (2000), The flying dinosaurs. Evolution history of primitive birds (1999) or Mythology of the dinosaurs (1999).

His scientific interest is mainly focused in the study of dinosaurs and fossil birds of the cretaceous period, directing several research projects on this subject. However, Sanz has also focused on deepening on the treatment of the dinosaur myth in the science fiction film, comic and literature. This interest has taken him to be a great promoter on the issue, acting as a host in many conferences and seminars.

Sanz has taken palaeontology as a 'funny' scientific discipline. And he has certainly achieved it.

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