11th grade, Architecture,
Construction, and Engineering Technical Charter High
School
ON ASSIGNMENT:
Nigersaurus Delegation: Important to the Public and Science
Every person, place, and thing existing today has a purpose. Whether it’s to provide housing to low-budget families, build schools in Africa for poverty-stricken kids, or give scholarships to students who cannot afford college tuitions, there’s a reason for every program today. The Nigersaurus Delegation had a duty for the public and for science. We had a message to deliver and it was heard by the entire world.
The Nigersaurus Delegation was a group of 15 members: three teachers, ten students from numerous Chicago Public Schools, and two employees of Project Exploration, a nonprofit organization that provides amazing scientific opportunities to kids in the Chicago area, especially for minority students.
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Photo E. Schroeter |
We traveled to Washington, D.C. for one day for the unveiling of a new dinosaur species discovered in Africa: Nigersaurus taqueti.
It’s been almost ten yeas since the dinosaur was discovered and now it’s finally revealed to the world. Nigersaurus, in short, is 110 million years old with a fragile structure. It’s a member of the sauropod group and an herbivore (an animal that eats plants).
Paul Sereno, the paleontologist that discovered the dinosaur, refers to Nigersaurus as a “problem child” when discussing how it ate. Because of its long neck, paleontologists had first believed the dinosaur ate from trees, but in actuality it grazed like a cow. It’s often called a “Mesozoic cow” because its long neck was used to eat plants close to the ground, such as ferns and horsetails.
Something truly amazing about this dinosaur is that it lightened its skeleton to reduce any bone that was not a necessity. To do this, it filled its bones with air to lessen its load.
I have given you many facts and some people may still ask why our delegation is important. Here’s why: science is constantly making new discoveries and unlocking new possibilities. Not only is Nigersaurus a major discovery in science, but a great discovery that connects us even closer to the world we live in. As we continue to evolve and change, so will our planet. If we don’t recognize these changes, we never will truly understand our earth’s history and why it is what it is today.
REFLECTIONS OF A DELEGATE
11/12/07
What are your goals for yourself during this unveiling?
From this trip to Washington, D.C., I plan to take in as much as I possibly can. Even though this will be my second time there, you always learn or find something new the next time around. I want to articulate better when speaking publicly.
I plan to meet new people and possibly build lifetime relationships with the representatives there and with my fellow delegates. Also, I plan to just enjoy the trip because this really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I really just want to enjoy every moment of it.
I want to show the people of Washington, D.C. that people from Chicago are not all the same. You have very intellectual individuals here and we all happen to be some of them.
Tommie sits next to a cast of the skull of Nigersaurus at
the Nigersaurus Delegation pre-trip training.
Photo M. E. Perez
11/14/07
I told my friend that I was going to the unveiling of a new dinosaur species and she asked, “Why should I care?” What should I tell her?
Why should you care? Why does science matter at all? Well, I have just the answer. The unveiling of this dinosaur, Nigersaurus taqueti, shows that science is constantly discovering new things and unlocking new possibilities. Not only has this proven Africa is the home to dinosaurs, but the home of an all new species. This is not just your average sauropod. It’s unique and stands out against any other. Its delicate infrastructure and multiple teeth let us distinguish it from any other. Not only is this a major discovery in science, but a new finding that connects us to the world we live in even more. It further proves evolution—how modern animals connect to those of ancient and prehistoric times. It means our world is constantly changing. It means we change every day of our lives. As we continue to move forward, these changes will seem drastic and very important to the development of our planet. As we evolve, our planet evolves with us. As we continue to grow, so will our world.
“If we don’t recognize these changes, we won’t understand our earth’s history and why it is what it is today.”
“You’re right, Tommie. I should care. See you when you get back.”
She hugs Tommie and watches him as he enters the gate to Washington, D.C. A change has been made. He made someone care.
11/15/07
The most valuable thing from this experience that I will take with me back to Chicago is…
The most valuable thing I’m taking back with me to Chicago is that when you’re traveling out of state or even out of the country, you’re representing not only where you come from, but also yourself. You want to make a lasting impression on anyone and everyone you encounter. You want people to see that you’re well mannered and that you have respect not only for yourself and where you come from, but for that region you’re in, too.
Tommie is interviewed by news reporters about his experiences
as a Nigersaurus Delegate.
Photo K. Atman
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