Scotese

James Scotese is an American paleontologist and geologist best known for his research on the historical biogeography of animals and plants, as well as his work in paleoclimatology and paleogeography. Born in 1953, Scotese earned his Ph.D. in geology from the University of Chicago in 1981, where he studied under the supervision of geophysicist William Lowrie. His career has been marked by contributions to understanding how Earth’s shifting continents and climate have influenced the distribution and evolution of life over millions of years.

Scotese is widely recognized for creating and maintaining the *PALEOMAP Project*, an online database and visualization tool that reconstructs the movement of Earth’s continents, ocean basins, and paleoclimate conditions throughout geological time. The project provides detailed maps of Earth’s past configurations, from the Precambrian era to the present, allowing scientists and educators to study ancient geography and its impact on ecosystems. His reconstructions have been instrumental in fields such as evolutionary biology, paleontology, and sedimentology.

Beyond continental drift, Scotese has explored the relationship between climate change and mass extinctions, particularly the end-Cretaceous extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs. His work suggests that rapid climate shifts, including volcanic activity and asteroid impacts, played a role in disrupting marine and terrestrial ecosystems. He has also examined the distribution of ancient flora and fauna, such as the spread of dinosaurs and early mammals, in relation to shifting landmasses.

Scotese’s research has been published in numerous scientific journals, including *Paleogeography, Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology* and *Geology*. He has collaborated with institutions like the University of Texas at Arlington, where he has served as a professor, and has been a visiting researcher at organizations such as the Smithsonian Institution. His contributions have earned him recognition in the scientific community, though his work remains accessible to the public through his website and educational outreach efforts.