Japanese varsity moves to launch full-fledged department on dinosaur studies

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) - A Japanese university on Honshu Island is set to launch a full-fledged dinosaur studies department at the start of the next academic year, starting in April.

Nearly 80% of Japan’s excavated dinosaur fossils have been discovered in Fukui province, according to Fukui University, which is renowned for its numerous fossil finds, reported public broadcaster NHK on Friday.

Dinosaurs first appeared during the Triassic period, between 243 and 233.23 million years ago, although the exact origin and timing of the evolution of dinosaurs is a subject of active research.

Students will engage in excavation fieldwork and utilize cutting-edge digital technologies to explore the dinosaur fossils.

Ahead of the launch, 19 students from the department conducted 3D scans of fossils on Thursday to collect data, which they used to reconstruct a dinosaur skeleton utilizing virtual reality technology.

Another Japanese university, Okayama University of Science in western Japan, last September also decided to establish a full department specializing in dinosaur studies. It was announced that the university's existing dinosaur studies course would be expanded into a full department by this spring.

Okayama University is also home to the Museum of Dinosaur Research, which displays fossil specimens and showcases the entire process of dinosaur study. The displays vary from excavation in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert to in-depth research and analysis.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​