Deinonychus antirrhopus: A Union College's alum's lasting legacy

Jurassic Park, the movie directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the book by Michael Crichton, premiered in 1993. It was an instant blockbuster and grossed a record-breaking $914 million worldwide, the highest box office revenue for any film at the time. Beyond its success, it had a major influence in sparking the dino-craze during the 1990s and a renewed interest in the field of paleontology. This fascination can be traced back to John Ostrom, born February 18th, 1928, in New York City and raised in Schenectady, New York. Despite his father's desire for him to pursue medicine, Ostrom became enthralled by the field of paleontology after taking an elective in geology and reading George Gaylord Simpson's book "The Meaning of Evolution". Ostrom later graduated from Union in 1951 with a bachelor's degree in geology. After graduating from Union, Ostrom pursued a Ph.D. in paleontology under the mentorship of George Gaylord Simpson at Columbia University. In 1961, he became a professor at Yale and curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Peabody Museum, roles he held until retiring in 1992. Deinonychus antirrhopus, a raptor dinosaur discovered by Ostrom in 1964 and named in 1969, became one of the most important dinosaurs to date, igniting what is known as the "dinosaur renaissance." Prior to this discovery, dinosaurs were thought to be dull, slow-moving, cold-blooded, lizard-like reptiles, but the features of Deinonychus showed differences which led to the now well-accepted idea that dinosaurs evolved from birds. John Ostrom's introductory geology course at Union College ignited his passion for paleontology. His groundbreaking discovery of Deinonychus and subsequent contributions to the "dinosaur renaissance" not only revolutionized the field but also indirectly inspired the Jurassic Park franchise. The widespread popularity of Jurassic Park further fueled public fascination with dinosaurs and paleontology, captivating both scientists and enthusiasts alike.