Maria’s research focuses on the preservation of soft tissues in the fossil record and how this provides unique insights into the biology of ancient animals. Her current major research projects are focussed on the preservation and evolution of melanin and of feathers. Maria leads a research group of 14 researchers, including six PhD students, four postdoctoral researchers and three research support officers. Maria's research is highly interdisciplinary and lies at the interface of geology, palaeontology, evolutionary biology, chemistry and applied physics.
Maria’s teaching is closely aligned with her research. She currently teaches the undergraduate module GL4024: Advanced Palaeontology and the postgraduate module PG6029: Skills in Public Engagement of Science.
Maria is passionate about public engagement and this is a major component of Maria’s work at UCC and beyond. She coordinates the national public engagement project “Ireland’s Fossil Heritage”. Maria has hosted exhibits and interactive public lectures at science festivals in Ireland, the UK and beyond, has delivered interactive classes to hundreds of primary and secondary school students, has featured in numerous interviews on live radio and TV and has appeared on various TV science documentaries.
My research combines fossil-based and experimental approaches to investigating the processes of decay and soft tissue preservation that control patterns in the fossil record of various vertebrate and invertebrate taxa. Key research areas include:
(1) Lacustrine-hosted exceptional biotas
(2) Organic preservation of decay-prone tissues
(3) Fossil structural colours
(4) Pigmentary colours in fossil insects and feathers
(5) Evolution of feathers
Major research outcomes to date include the first undisputed reports of, and taphonomic models for, organic preservation of very decay-prone tissues (with subcellar anatomical fidelity) in the fossil record. My work has also elucidated the role of tissue-specific controls on soft tissue preservation in fossils, and has demonstrated that exceptional preservation of vertebrates in lake settings is controlled by biological factors, not short-term environmental fluctuations. More recent work includes the first systematic investigations of the fossil record of structural colour, including discoveries of novel features, and of the taphonomy of feather coloration. I have pioneered the use of experimental maturation techniques in understanding the fossil record of colour in insects and feathers, and have produced the first synthesis of the field of fossil colour. My work on the evolution of feathers has confirmed that feathers evolved early in the evolutionary history of dinosaurs.
To date I have secured over €2.3M in research funding from national and international sources. I encourage undergraduate students to take part in research projects and offer regular opportunities for my undergraduate students to get involved in ongoing projects in my research laboratory.
Biography
Prof. Maria McNamara is Professor of Palaeontology at the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at University College Cork. Maria has a PhD from University College Dublin and was an Irish Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow at University College Dublin, before working as a Geopark Geologist in what is now the Burren-Cliffs of Moher Global Geopark. She then worked as a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Yale University (USA) and did further postdoctoral research at the University of Bristol, before taking up her appointment as Lecturer in Geology at UCC.Maria’s research focuses on the preservation of soft tissues in the fossil record and how this provides unique insights into the biology of ancient animals. Her current major research projects are focussed on the preservation and evolution of melanin and of feathers. Maria leads a research group of 14 researchers, including six PhD students, four postdoctoral researchers and three research support officers. Maria's research is highly interdisciplinary and lies at the interface of geology, palaeontology, evolutionary biology, chemistry and applied physics.
Maria’s teaching is closely aligned with her research. She currently teaches the undergraduate module GL4024: Advanced Palaeontology and the postgraduate module PG6029: Skills in Public Engagement of Science.
Maria is passionate about public engagement and this is a major component of Maria’s work at UCC and beyond. She coordinates the national public engagement project “Ireland’s Fossil Heritage”. Maria has hosted exhibits and interactive public lectures at science festivals in Ireland, the UK and beyond, has delivered interactive classes to hundreds of primary and secondary school students, has featured in numerous interviews on live radio and TV and has appeared on various TV science documentaries.
Research Interests
I work on the preservation and palaeobiology of exceptionally preserved fossils. My research is highly interdisciplinary and lies at the interface of the geological, biological and physical sciences. In particular my work encompasses the fields of taphonomy, anatomy, sedimentology, evolutionary biology, organic geochemistry, inorganic geochemistry and applied optics.My research combines fossil-based and experimental approaches to investigating the processes of decay and soft tissue preservation that control patterns in the fossil record of various vertebrate and invertebrate taxa. Key research areas include:
(1) Lacustrine-hosted exceptional biotas
(2) Organic preservation of decay-prone tissues
(3) Fossil structural colours
(4) Pigmentary colours in fossil insects and feathers
(5) Evolution of feathers
Major research outcomes to date include the first undisputed reports of, and taphonomic models for, organic preservation of very decay-prone tissues (with subcellar anatomical fidelity) in the fossil record. My work has also elucidated the role of tissue-specific controls on soft tissue preservation in fossils, and has demonstrated that exceptional preservation of vertebrates in lake settings is controlled by biological factors, not short-term environmental fluctuations. More recent work includes the first systematic investigations of the fossil record of structural colour, including discoveries of novel features, and of the taphonomy of feather coloration. I have pioneered the use of experimental maturation techniques in understanding the fossil record of colour in insects and feathers, and have produced the first synthesis of the field of fossil colour. My work on the evolution of feathers has confirmed that feathers evolved early in the evolutionary history of dinosaurs.
To date I have secured over €2.3M in research funding from national and international sources. I encourage undergraduate students to take part in research projects and offer regular opportunities for my undergraduate students to get involved in ongoing projects in my research laboratory.
Research Grants
| Project | Funding Body | Start Date | End Date | Award | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iCRAG Equipment Award (Geochemistry Platform / Platform 1) for purchase of an Olympus UV fluorescence microscope imaging system | Other: Not Listed | 27-JAN-23 | 26-JAN-28 | €45,761.00 | |
| Mapping Understanding and Current Knowledge: Irish Soils | Environment Protection Agency (EPA) | 29-NOV-21 | 28-JUN-22 | €29,991.00 | |
| SFI Frontiers for the Future. ‘The evolution of melanin in vertebrates’. | Science Foundation Ireland | 01-NOV-21 | 31-OCT-25 | €479,995.00 | |
| ERC Consolidator Grant. ‘Palaeochem: Biomolecular innovation and the evolution of animals: insights from taphonomy and the fossil record’ | Horizon 2020 | 01-JUL-21 | 30-JUN-26 | €2,460,114.00 | |
| UCC Learning, Teaching and Assessment Enhancement Fund. 'Fossil Digilab: bringing cutting-edge microbeam analysis of ancient materials into the classroom' | Other: Not Listed | 01-MAY-21 | €1,808.00 | ||
| SFI Discover Programme. ‘Ireland’s secret past: unlocking our fossil heritage’ | Science Foundation Ireland | 01-JAN-20 | 31-DEC-23 | €299,441.00 | |
| Erasmus+ Funding: Staff Training Visit to Lund University 2020/2021 academic year | ERASMUS | 01-JAN-20 | €1,175.00 | ||
| Stanford Linear Accelerator Centre for access to synchrotron beamlines. ‘Decoding the functional evolution of melanin through deep time: using taphonomy to understand metal-melanin interactions’ | Stanford University | 01-JAN-20 | €250,240.00 | ||
| SFI 2013 Research Centres Phase 2 Programme. iCRAG Phase 2 | Science Foundation Ireland | 01-JAN-19 | €22,500,000.00 | ||
| Stanford Linear Accelerator Centre for access to synchrotron beamlines. ‘Metal contamination of microplastic-associated biofilms’ | Stanford University | 01-OCT-18 | 31-DEC-20 | €64,480.00 | |
| SFI Discover Programme: ‘Ireland’s secret past: unlocking our fossil heritage’ | Science Foundation Ireland | 01-JAN-19 | 31-MAR-20 | €50,000.00 | |
| iCRAG – GSI Environmental Geosciences Postgraduate Programme award. ‘The impact of organic matter on heavy metal bioavailability in urban soils: experimental and field-based approaches’ | Other: Not Listed | 01-OCT-18 | 31-DEC-23 | €144,700.00 | |
| SFI Infrastructure Development Programme grant for purchase of a micro-FTIR system | Science Foundation Ireland | 01-JAN-16 | 31-DEC-16 | €167,032.00 | |
| Stanford Linear Accelerator Centre for access to synchrotron beamlines. ‘Taphonomy of vertebrate integument’ | Stanford University | 01-JUL-16 | 30-JUN-18 | €92,448.00 | |
| Stanford Linear Accelerator Centre for access to synchrotron beamlines. ‘Taphonomy of pigmentary colour in insects’ | Stanford University | 01-OCT-16 | 30-SEP-18 | €43,686.00 | |
| SFI Infrastructure Development Programme grant for purchase of a field emission scanning electron microscope and ultramicrotome | Science Foundation Ireland | 01-JAN-17 | 31-DEC-18 | €135,227.00 | |
| Science Foundation Ireland ERC Support Grant | Science Foundation Ireland | 01-AUG-16 | 31-JUL-21 | €272,473.00 | |
| European Research Council Starting Grant. ‘The evolution of animal coloration through deep time: homology, taphonomy and evolutionary novelty’ (ANICOLEVO) | Horizon 2020 | 01-JAN-16 | 31-DEC-20 | €1,568,000.00 | |
| Stanford Linear Accelerator Centre for access to synchrotron beamlines. ‘Taphonomy of melanin in fossil insects’ | Stanford University | 01-AUG-12 | 31-JUL-14 | €87,382.00 | |
| Irish Research Council New Foundations award for ‘Evolution of 3D biophotonic nanostructures’ | Irish Research Council | 01-MAR-14 | 30-NOV-14 | €6,000.00 | |
| UCC Strategic Research Fund awards to support (1) fieldwork in China and Russia, value €5,000; (2) repair of in-house SEM, value €1,500; (3) access to synchrotron facilities at Stanford University | UCC Strategic Research Fund | 01-OCT-13 | 31-DEC-14 | €16,500.00 | |
| Marie Curie Career Integration Grant 'The taphonomy of colour in fossil insects and feathers' | European Commission | 01-SEP-13 | 11-MAY-18 | €100,000.00 | |
| Tyndall National Institute National Access Programme Grant | Tyndall National Institute National Access Programme | 01-JAN-13 | €12,159.00 | ||
| Palaeontological Association Grant-in-aid to support a topical session titled ‘Konservat-Lagerstatten’ at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America | Other: Not Listed | 01-JAN-13 | €1,716.00 | ||
| Palaeontological Association Grant-in-Aid to develop educational materials | Other: Not Listed | 01-JAN-13 | €2,861.00 | ||
| Geologists’ Association Curry Fund grant to develop educational materials | Other: Not Listed | 01-JAN-13 | €3,433.00 | ||
| University of Bristol Alumni Fund award for palaeontological outreach | Other: Not Listed | 01-JAN-13 | €1,716.00 | ||
| Award for beamtime at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource facility at Stanford University. ‘Taphonomy of melanin in fossil insects’ | Stanford University | 01-JAN-12 | €86,046.00 | ||
| IRCSET-Marie Curie International Mobility Fellowship. ‘Controls on the preservation of colour in the fossil record’ | Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering & Technology (IRCSET) | 01-JAN-09 | €239,271.00 | ||
| SYNTHESYS award for access to research facilities at the Natural History Museum, London | EU Synthesys programme | 01-JAN-08 | €7,000.00 | ||
| UCD Seed Funding Scheme for travel costs for conference attendance | Other: Not Listed | 01-JAN-08 | €1,500.00 | ||
| SYNTHESYS award for access to research facilities at the Natural History Museum, London | EU Synthesys programme | 01-JAN-07 | €1,000.00 | ||
| UCD Seed Funding Scheme for purchase of laboratory equipment | Other: Not Listed | 01-JAN-07 | €13,000.00 | ||
| IRCSET Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. ‘The taphonomy of keratinous tissues’ | Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering & Technology (IRCSET) | 01-JAN-06 | €98,000.00 |
Contract Researchers
| Researcher Name | Project | Role | Funding Body | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Chung | Mary Ward Laboratory | Other | Other: Not Listed | |
| Dr Jess Franklin | Ireland's Secret Past - Unlocking our fossil heritage | Other | Science Foundation Ireland | |
| Naomi O'Reilly | Palaeochem | Other | European Commission | |
| Dr Dirleane Rossato | The evolution of melanin in vertebrates | Postdoctoral Researcher | Science Foundation Ireland | |
| Dr Valentina Rossi | Palaeochem | Postdoctoral Researcher | European Commission | |
| Dr Tiffany Slater | Palaeochem | Postdoctoral Researcher | European Commission | |
| Dr Zixiao Yang | The evolution of melanin in vertebrates | Postdoctoral Researcher | Science Foundation Ireland |
Publications
Peer Reviewed Journals
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2023) | 'Taphonomic experiments reveal authentic molecular signals for fossil melanins and verify preservation of phaeomelanin in fossils' Slater, T.S., Ito, S., Wakamatsu, K., Zhang, F., Sjövall, P., Jarenmark, M., Lindgren, J., McNamara, M.E. (2023) 'Taphonomic experiments reveal authentic molecular signals for fossil melanins and verify preservation of phaeomelanin in fossils'. Nature Communications, 14 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2023) | 'Preservation of corneous β-proteins in Mesozoic feathers' Slater, T.S., Edwards, N.P., Webb, S.M., Zhang, F., McNamara, M.E (2023) 'Preservation of corneous β-proteins in Mesozoic feathers'. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 7 :1706-1713 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2023) | 'The origins of colour patterns in fossil insects revealed by maturation experiments' Wang, S., McNamara, M.E., Wang, B., Hui, H., Jiang, B. (2023) 'The origins of colour patterns in fossil insects revealed by maturation experiments'. Proceedings of The Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 290 (20231333) [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2023) | 'Allometric wing growth links parental care to pterosaur giantism' Yang, Z., Jiang, B., Benton, M.J., Xu, X., McNamara, M.E., Hone, D.W.E. (2023) 'Allometric wing growth links parental care to pterosaur giantism'. Proceedings of The Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 290 (20231102) [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2022) | 'Metals in urban soils of Europe: A systematic review' Binner, H., Sullivan, T., Jansen, M.A.K., McNamara, M.E. (2022) 'Metals in urban soils of Europe: A systematic review'. Science of The Total Environment, 854 (158734) [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2022) | 'The skeletal taphonomy of anurans from the Eocene Geiseltal Konservat-Lagerstatte, Germany: insights into the controls on fossil anuran preservation' Falk, D., Wings, O., McNamara, M.E. (2022) 'The skeletal taphonomy of anurans from the Eocene Geiseltal Konservat-Lagerstatte, Germany: insights into the controls on fossil anuran preservation'. Papers In Palaeontology, 8 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2022) | 'Skin patterning and internal anatomy in a fossil moonfish from the Eocene Bolca Lagerstätte illuminate the ecology of ancient reef fish communities' Rossi, V., Unitt, R., McNamara, M., Zorzin, R., Carnevale, G. (2022) 'Skin patterning and internal anatomy in a fossil moonfish from the Eocene Bolca Lagerstätte illuminate the ecology of ancient reef fish communities'. Palaeontology, 65 (e12600) [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2022) | 'Pterosaur melanosomes support signalling functions for early feathers' Cincotta, A., Nicolaï, M., Nascimento Campos, H.B., McNamara, M., D’Alba, L., Shawkey, M.D., Kischlat, E.E., Yans, J., Carleer, R. Escuillié, F., Godefroit, P. (2022) 'Pterosaur melanosomes support signalling functions for early feathers'. Nature, 604 :684-688 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2021) | 'Allometric analysis sheds light on the systematics and ontogeny of anurognathid pterosaurs' Yang, Z., Benton, M.J., Hone, D.W.E., Xu, X., McNamara, M.E., Jiang, B. (2021) 'Allometric analysis sheds light on the systematics and ontogeny of anurognathid pterosaurs'. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, e2028796 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2021) | 'Maturation experiments reveal bias in the chemistry of fossil melanosomes' Rossi, V., Webb, S., McNamara, M.E. (2021) 'Maturation experiments reveal bias in the chemistry of fossil melanosomes'. Geology, 49 :784-788 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2021) | 'Jurassic scorpionflies (Mecoptera) with swollen first metatarsal segments suggesting sexual dimorphism' Zhang, Y., Shih, P., Wang, J., McNamara, M.E., Shih, C., Ren, D., Taiping, G. (2021) 'Jurassic scorpionflies (Mecoptera) with swollen first metatarsal segments suggesting sexual dimorphism'. BMC Ecology and Evolution, 21 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2021) | 'Decoding the evolution of melanin in vertebrates' McNamara, M.E., Roulin, A.L., Rossi, V., Rogers, C.S., Slater, T.S., Dubey, S., Roulin, A. (2021) 'Decoding the evolution of melanin in vertebrates'. Trends In Ecology & Evolution, 46 (5):430-443 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2020) | 'Synchrotron x‐ray fluorescence analysis reveals diagenetic alteration of fossil melanosome trace metal chemistry' Rogers, C.S., Webb, S.M., McNamara, M.E. (2020) 'Synchrotron x‐ray fluorescence analysis reveals diagenetic alteration of fossil melanosome trace metal chemistry'. Palaeontology, 64 (1):63-73 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2020) | 'Reply to: ‘No protofeathers on pterosaurs’' Yang, Z., Jiang, B., McNamara, M.E., Kearns, S.L., Pittman, M., Kaye, T.G., Orr, P.J., Xu, X., Benton, M.J. (2020) 'Reply to: ‘No protofeathers on pterosaurs’'. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 4 :1592-1593 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2020) | 'Hierarchical biota-level and taxonomic controls on the chemistry of fossil melanosomes revealed using synchrotron X-ray fluorescence' Rossi, V., Webb, S., McNamara, M.E. (2020) 'Hierarchical biota-level and taxonomic controls on the chemistry of fossil melanosomes revealed using synchrotron X-ray fluorescence'. Scientific Reports, 10 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2020) | 'Brilliant angle-independent structural colours preserved in weevil scales from the Swiss Pleistocene' McDonald, L., Saranathan, V., Narayanan, S., Sandy, A., McNamara, M.E. (2020) 'Brilliant angle-independent structural colours preserved in weevil scales from the Swiss Pleistocene'. Biology Letters, 16 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2020) | 'Experimental investigation of insect deposition in lentic environments and implications for formation of Konservat Lagerstätten' Tian, Q., Wang, S., Yang, Z., McNamara, M.E., Benton, M.J., Jiang, B. (2020) 'Experimental investigation of insect deposition in lentic environments and implications for formation of Konservat Lagerstätten'. Palaeontology, 63 :565-578 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2019) | 'Synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy of melanosomes in vertebrates and cephalopods: implications for the affinity of Tullimonstrum' Rogers, Christopher S.; Astrop, Timothy I.; Webb, Samuel M.; Ito, Shosuke; Wakamatsu, Kazumasa; McNamara, Maria E. (2019) 'Synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy of melanosomes in vertebrates and cephalopods: implications for the affinity of Tullimonstrum'. Proceedings of The Royal Society B, 286 (1913) [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2019) | 'Taphonomic experiments resolve controls on the preservation of melanosomes and keratinous tissues in feathers' Slater, T.S., McNamara, M.E., Orr, P.J., Foley, T.B., Ito, S., Wakamatsu, K. (2019) 'Taphonomic experiments resolve controls on the preservation of melanosomes and keratinous tissues in feathers'. Palaeontology, [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2019) | 'Tissue-specific geometry and chemistry of modern and fossilized melanosomes reveal internal anatomy of extinct vertebrates' Rossi, V., McNamara, M.E., Webb, S.M., Ito, S., Wakamatsu, K. (2019) 'Tissue-specific geometry and chemistry of modern and fossilized melanosomes reveal internal anatomy of extinct vertebrates'. Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences of The United States of America, 116 :17880-17889 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2019) | 'The Early Origin of Feathers' Benton, M.J., Dhouailly, D., Jiang, B., McNamara, M. (2019) 'The Early Origin of Feathers'. Trends In Ecology & Evolution, 34 :856-869 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2019) | 'Pterosaur integumentary structures with complex feather-like branching' Yang, Z.X., Jiang, B.Y., McNamara, M.E., Kearns, S.L., Pittman, M., Kaye, T.G., Orr, P.J., Xu, X., Benton, M.J. (2019) 'Pterosaur integumentary structures with complex feather-like branching'. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 3 :24-30 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2018) | 'Experimental degradation of helicoidal photonic nanostructures in scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae): implications for the identification of circularly polarizing cuticle in the fossil record' Odin, Giliane P.; McNamara, Maria E.; Arwin, Hans; Järrendahl, Kenneth (2018) 'Experimental degradation of helicoidal photonic nanostructures in scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae): implications for the identification of circularly polarizing cuticle in the fossil record'. Journal Of The Royal Society Interface, 15 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2019) | 'Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction and biostratinomic analysis of the Jurassic Yanliao Lagerstätte in northeastern China' Yang, Z., Wang, S., Tian, Q., Wang, B., Hethke, M., McNamara, M.E., Benton, M.J., Xu, X., Jiang, B. (2019) 'Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction and biostratinomic analysis of the Jurassic Yanliao Lagerstätte in northeastern China'. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2018) | 'Non-integumentary melanosomes can bias reconstructions of the colours of fossil vertebrates' McNamara, M.E., Kaye, J.S., Benton, M.J., Orr, P.J., Rossi, V., Ito, S., Wakamatsu, K. (2018) 'Non-integumentary melanosomes can bias reconstructions of the colours of fossil vertebrates'. Nature Communications, 9 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2018) | 'Fossilized skin reveals coevolution with feathers and metabolism in feathered dinosaurs and early birds' McNamara, M.E., Zhang, F., Kearns, S.L., Orr, P.J., Toulouse, A., Foley, T., Hone, D.W.E., Rogers, C.S., Benton, M.J., Johnson, D., Xu, X., Zhou, Z. (2018) 'Fossilized skin reveals coevolution with feathers and metabolism in feathered dinosaurs and early birds'. Nature Communications, 9 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2018) | 'Fossil scales illuminate the early evolution of lepidopterans and structural colors' Zhang, Q., Mey, W., Ansorge, J., Starkey, T.A., McDonald, L.T., McNamara, M.E., Jarzembowski, E.A., Wichard, W., Kelly, R., Ren, X., Chen, J., Zhang, H., Wang, B. (2018) 'Fossil scales illuminate the early evolution of lepidopterans and structural colors'. Science Advances, 4 (e1700988) [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2018) | 'Experimental analysis of soft-tissue fossilization – opening the black box' Purnell, Mark A.; Donoghue, Philip J.C.; Gabbott, Sarah E.; McNamara, Maria E.; Murdock, Duncan J.E.; Sansom, Robert S. (2018) 'Experimental analysis of soft-tissue fossilization – opening the black box'. Palaeontology, 61 :317-323 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2017) | 'Exceptionally preserved fossil assemblages through geologic time and space' Muscente, A.D., Schiffbauer, J.D., Broce, J., Laflamme, M., O’Donnell, K., Boag, T.H., Meyer, M., Hawkins, A.D., Huntley, J.W., McNamara, M., MacKenzie, L.A., Stanley Jr, G.D., Hinman, N.W., Hofmann, M.H., Xiao, S. (2017) 'Exceptionally preserved fossil assemblages through geologic time and space'. Gondwana Research, 48 :164-188 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2016) | 'Stick 'n' peel: Explaining unusual patterns of disarticulation and loss of completeness in fossil vertebrates' Orr, Patrick J.; Adler, Laetitia B.; Beardmore, Susan R.; Furrer, Heinz; McNamara, Maria E.; Peñalver-Mollá, Enrique; Redelstorff, Ragna (2016) 'Stick 'n' peel: Explaining unusual patterns of disarticulation and loss of completeness in fossil vertebrates'. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, 457 :380-388 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2016) | 'Reconstructing Carotenoid-Based and Structural Coloration in Fossil Skin' McNamara, Maria E; Orr, Patrick J.; Kearns, Stuart L; Alcalá, Luis; Anadón, Pere; Peñalver, Enrique (2016) 'Reconstructing Carotenoid-Based and Structural Coloration in Fossil Skin'. Current Biology, 26 :1075-1082 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2016) | 'Fossilization of melanosomes via sulfurization' McNamara, M.E., Van Dongen, B., Bull, I., Orr, P.J. (2016) 'Fossilization of melanosomes via sulfurization'. Palaeontology, 59 :337-350 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details] | |
| (2015) | 'The Chinese Pompeii? Death and destruction of dinosaurs in the Early Cretaceous of Lujiatun, NE China' Rogers, C.S., Hone, D.W., McNamara, M.E., Zhao, Q., Orr, P.J., Kearns, S.K., Benton, M.J. (2015) 'The Chinese Pompeii? Death and destruction of dinosaurs in the Early Cretaceous of Lujiatun, NE China'. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, 427 :89-99 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2014) | 'A Jurassic ornithischian dinosaur from Siberia with both feathers and scales' Godefroit, P., Sinitsa, S.M., Dhouailly, D., Bolotsky, Y.L., Sizov, A.V., McNamara, M.E., Benton, M.J., Spagna, P. (2014) 'A Jurassic ornithischian dinosaur from Siberia with both feathers and scales'. Science, 345 :451-455 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2014) | 'What big eyes you have: the ecological role of giant pterygotid eurypterids' Anderson, R.P., McCoy, V., McNamara, M.E. (2014) 'What big eyes you have: the ecological role of giant pterygotid eurypterids'. Biology Letters, 10 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2014) | 'Cryptic iridescence in a fossil weevil generated by single diamond photonic crystals' McNamara, M.E., Saranathan, V., Locatelli, E., Noh, H., Briggs, D.E.G., Orr, P., Cao, H. (2014) 'Cryptic iridescence in a fossil weevil generated by single diamond photonic crystals'. Journal Of The Royal Society Interface, 11 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2014) | 'Response to Comment on ‘A Jurassic ornithischian dinosaur from Siberia with both feathers and scales’' Godefroit, P., Sinitsa, S.M., Dhouailly, D., Bolotsky, Y.L., Sizov, A.V., McNamara, M.E., Benton, M.J., Spagna, P. (2014) 'Response to Comment on ‘A Jurassic ornithischian dinosaur from Siberia with both feathers and scales’'. Science, 346 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2013) | 'The fossil record of insect color illuminated by maturation experiments' McNamara, M.E., Briggs, D.E.G., Orr, P.J., Gupta, N.S., Locatelli, E.R., Qiu, L., Yang, H., Wang, Z., Noh, H., Cao, H. (2013) 'The fossil record of insect color illuminated by maturation experiments'. Geology, [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2013) | 'Experimental maturation of feathers: implications for reconstructions of fossil feather colour' McNamara, M.E., Briggs, D.E.G., Orr, P.J.O., Field, D., Wang, Z. (2013) 'Experimental maturation of feathers: implications for reconstructions of fossil feather colour'. Biology Letters, [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2013) | 'The taphonomy of colour in fossil insects and feathers' McNamara, M.E. (2013) 'The taphonomy of colour in fossil insects and feathers'. Palaeontology, 56 :557-575 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2012) | 'The original colours of fossil beetles' McNamara, M.E., Briggs, D.E.G., Orr, P.J., Noh, H., Cao, H. (2012) 'The original colours of fossil beetles'. Proceedings of The Royal Society B, 279 :1114-1121 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2012) | 'The controls on the preservation of structural color in fossil insects' McNamara, M.E., Briggs, D.E.G., Orr, P.J. (2012) 'The controls on the preservation of structural color in fossil insects'. Palaios, 27 :443-454 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2012) | 'What controls the taphonomy of exceptionally preserved taxa – environment or biology? A case study using exceptionally preserved frogs from the Miocene Libros Konservat-Lagerstätte, Spain' McNamara, M. E., Orr, P. J., Kearns, S., Alcalá, L., Anadón, P., Peñalver, E. (2012) 'What controls the taphonomy of exceptionally preserved taxa – environment or biology? A case study using exceptionally preserved frogs from the Miocene Libros Konservat-Lagerstätte, Spain'. Palaios, 27 :63-77 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2011) | 'Fossilized biophotonic nanostructures reveal the original colors of 47 million-year-old moths' McNamara, M.E., Briggs, D.E.G., Orr, P.J., Wedmann, S., Noh, H., Cao, H. (2011) 'Fossilized biophotonic nanostructures reveal the original colors of 47 million-year-old moths'. PloS Biology, 9 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2011) | 'Biological controls upon the physical taphonomy of exceptionally preserved salamanders from the Miocene of Rubielos de Mora, northeast Spain' McNamara, M.E., Orr, P.J., Manzocchi, T., Alcalá, L., Anadón, P., Peñalver, E. (2011) 'Biological controls upon the physical taphonomy of exceptionally preserved salamanders from the Miocene of Rubielos de Mora, northeast Spain'. Lethaia, 45 :210-226 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2010) | 'Organic preservation of fossil musculature with ultracellular detail' McNamara, M.E., Orr, P.J., Kearns, S., Alcalá, L., Anadón, P., Peñalver, E. (2010) 'Organic preservation of fossil musculature with ultracellular detail'. Proceedings of The Royal Society B, 277 :423-427 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2009) | 'Soft tissue preservation in Miocene frogs from Libros (Spain): Insights into the genesis of decay microenvironments' McNamara, M. E., Orr, P. J., Kearns, S., Alcalá, L., Anadón, P., Peñalver, E. (2009) 'Soft tissue preservation in Miocene frogs from Libros (Spain): Insights into the genesis of decay microenvironments'. Palaios, 24 :104-117 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2009) | 'Exceptionally preserved tadpoles from the Miocene of Libros, Spain: Ecomorphological reconstruction and the impact of ontogeny upon taphonomy' McNamara, M.E., Orr, P.J., Kearns, S., Alcalá, L., Anadón, P., Peñalver, E. (2009) 'Exceptionally preserved tadpoles from the Miocene of Libros, Spain: Ecomorphological reconstruction and the impact of ontogeny upon taphonomy'. Lethaia, 43 :290-306 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2006) | 'High fidelity preservation of bone marrow in c. 10 million year old amphibians' McNamara, M. E., Orr, P. J., Kearns, S., Alcalá, L., Anadón, P., Peñalver, E. (2006) 'High fidelity preservation of bone marrow in c. 10 million year old amphibians'. Geology, 34 :641-644 [DOI] [Details] |
Books
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2018) | Fossilization of melanosomes via sulfurization. McNamara, M.E. (2018) Fossilization of melanosomes via sulfurization. Spain: Instituto de Estudios Turolenses. [Details] |
Conference Publications
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2023) | Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cambridge, UK Rossi, V., Unitt, R., McNamara, M.E. (2023) A novel method for discriminating ancient melanins using Raman spectroscopy Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cambridge, UK [Details] | |
| (2023) | Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cambridge, UK Yang, Z., McNamara, M. (2023) Experimental phosphatisation of shrimps in a freshwater setting Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cambridge, UK [Details] | |
| (2023) | Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cambridge, UK Yang, Z., Jiang, B., McNamara, M. (2023) Three-dimensional preservation of skin ultrastructure in a feathered dinosaur Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cambridge, UK [Details] | |
| (2023) | Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cambridge, UK Molodtsov, D., McNamara, M.E., Tarasov, Y. (2023) First record of a possible synziphosurine from the Middle Ordovician of Baltoscandia Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cambridge, UK [Details] | |
| (2023) | Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cambridge, UK Quigley, A., Carazo del Hoyo, B., Cirtina, D., McCarney, C., Brennan, J., Ziapour, S., McNamara, M.E. (2023) Melanosome geometry informs on the functional evolution of melanin in Reptilia and Amphibia Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cambridge, UK [Details] | |
| (2023) | Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cambridge, UK Bean, H., Field, D., McNamara, M. (2023) Characterisation of melanin-based colour expression and melanosome characteristics across the avian phylogeny Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cambridge, UK [Details] | |
| (2023) | Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cambridge, UK Slater, T.S., Edwards, N.P., Webb, S.M., Zhang, F., McNamara, M.E. (2023) Two birds with one stone: the taphonomy of feather proteins and the biochemical evolution of feathers Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cambridge, UK [Details] | |
| (2023) | Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cambridge, UK Carazo del Hoyo, B., Quigley, A., Cirtina, D., McCarney, C., Brennan, J., Ziapour, S., McNamara, M.E. (2023) Phylogenetic variation in tissue-specific melanosome geometry in mammals and birds Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cambridge, UK [Details] | |
| (2023) | Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cambridge, UK Falk, D., Wings, O., McNamara, M.E. (2023) A new taphonomic model for the Eocene Geiseltal Konservat-Lagerstätte (Germany) Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cambridge, UK [Details] | |
| (2023) | Goldschmidt 2023, Lyon, France Binner, H., Sullivan, T., McNamara, M.E. (2023) Comparative geochemistry of urban soil in Cork and Wexford, Ireland Goldschmidt 2023, Lyon, France [Details] | |
| (2023) | Progressive Palaeontology, Liverpool, UK Bean, H., Field, D., McNamara, M. (2023) Characterisation of melanin-based colour expression and melanosome characteristics across the avian phylogeny Progressive Palaeontology, Liverpool, UK [Details] | |
| (2023) | Progressive Palaeontology, Liverpool, UK Quigley, A., Carazo del Hoyo, B., Cirtina, D., McCarney, C., Brennan, J., McNamara, M.E. (2023) Melanosomes in extant animals – Implications for the functional evolution of melanin in vertebrates Progressive Palaeontology, Liverpool, UK [Details] | |
| (2023) | EGU 2023, Vienna, Austria Binner, H., Sullivan, T., McNamara, M.E. (2023) The future of urban soil policy in Cork, Ireland EGU 2023, Vienna, Austria [Details] | |
| (2022) | SSRL/LCLS Users' Meeting Slater, T.S., Edwards, N.P., Webb, S., McNamara, M.E. (2022) The plight of a feather: tracking the degradation of feather corneous beta proteins and identifying their remains in fossil feathers SSRL/LCLS Users' Meeting [Details] | |
| (2022) | SVPCA 2022, London, UK Slater, T.S., Edwards, N.P., Webb, S., McNamara, M.E. (2022) The taphonomy of feather corneous beta proteins and their preservation in Mesozoic feathers: a bright future for fossil feathers SVPCA 2022, London, UK [Details] | |
| (2022) | SVPCA 2022, London, UK McNamara, M.E., Rossi, V., Werneburg, R., Spindler, F. (2022) Soft tissue preservation in varanopid synapsids from the Chemnitz Lagerstätte (Permian, Germany) SVPCA 2022, London, UK [Details] | |
| (2022) | SVPCA 2022, London, UK Rossi, V., O'Goghain, A., McNamara, M. (2022) Synchrotron-XRF reveals soft tissue preservation in the horned tetrapod Keraterpeton (Pennsylvanian, Jarrow, Ireland) SVPCA 2022, London, UK [Details] | |
| (2022) | SVPCA 2022, London, UK Yang, Z., Jiang, B., McNamara, M. (2022) Three-dimensional ultrastructural preservation of scaled skin in a feathered non-avian dinosaur SVPCA 2022, London, UK [Details] | |
| (2022) | SVPCA 2022, London, UK Quigley, A., Carazo del Hoyo, B., Cirtina, D., McCarney, C., Brennan, J., McNamara, M.E. (2022) Melanosomes in extant mammals – implications for the functional evolution of melanin in vertebrates SVPCA 2022, London, UK [Details] | |
| (2022) | Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cork, Ireland Falk, D., Wings, O., McNamara, M.E. (2022) Comparative taphonomy of anurans from lacustrine-hosted Cenozoic Lagerstätten Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cork, Ireland [Details] | |
| (2022) | Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cork, Ireland Slater, T.S., Ito, S., Wakamatsu, K., Zhang, F., Sjövall, P., Jarenmark, M., Lindgren, J., McNamara, M.E. (2022) True colours: a new model for the taphonomy of melanin chemistry and the identification of phaeomelanin in Miocene and Cretaceous fossils Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cork, Ireland [Details] | |
| (2022) | Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cork, Ireland Carazo del Hoyo, B., McNamara, M.E. (2022) Testing the casing model: the evolutionary implications of melanosome chemistry and formation Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cork, Ireland [Details] | |
| (2022) | Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cork, Ireland Falk, D., Wings, O., McNamara, M.E. (2022) Comparative taphonomy of anurans from the Eocene Geiseltal Konservat-Lagerstätte (Germany) Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cork, Ireland [Details] | |
| (2022) | Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cork, Ireland Schöneberger, A., McNamara, M. (2022) Impact of palaeoenvironment on the fossil assemblage of Hook Head (Co. Wexford, Ireland) Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cork, Ireland [Details] | |
| (2022) | Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cork, Ireland Cirtina, D., McNamara M.E. (2022) Characterisation of internal and external melanin within fish Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cork, Ireland [Details] | |
| (2022) | iGEO 2022, Cork, Ireland Binner, H., Sullivan, T., McNamara, M.E. (2022) Urban soil metal concentrations in parks in Cork city iGEO 2022, Cork, Ireland [Details] | |
| (2022) | iGEO 2022, Cork, Ireland McNamara, M.E., Binner, H., Hynes, E., Andrade, L. (2022) MUCKISOILS: Mapping Understanding and Current Knowledge of Irish Soils iGEO 2022, Cork, Ireland [Details] | |
| (2022) | Progressive Palaeontology 2022, Lincoln, UK Cirtina, D., McNamara M.E. (2022) Characterisation of internal and external melanin across the fish phylogeny Progressive Palaeontology 2022, Lincoln, UK [Details] | |
| (2022) | Progressive Palaeontology 2022, Lincoln, UK Carazo del Hoyo, B., McNamara, M.E. (2022) Testing melanosome chemistry and formation: evolutionary implications of the casing model Progressive Palaeontology 2022, Lincoln, UK [Details] | |
| (2021) | Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Manchester, UK Cincotta, A., Nicolai, M., Nascimento Campos, H. B., McNamara, M., D'Alba, L., Shawkey, M. D., Kischlat, E. E., Yans, J., Carleer, R. Escuillie, F., Godefroit, P. (2021) Simple and branched pterosaur feathers with distinct melanosome geometries reveal deep origin of visual signalling in feather evolution Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Manchester, UK [Details] | |
| (2021) | Environ 2021, online Binner, H., Sullivan, T., McNamara, M.E. (2021) Systematic review of metal contamination in European urban soils: progress and future directions Environ 2021, online [Details] | |
| (2021) | European Geosciences Union, online Binner, H., Sullivan, T., McNamara, M.E. (2021) Metal contamination of urban soils in Cork, Ireland European Geosciences Union, online [Details] | |
| (2020) | Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, online Falk, D., Wings, O., McNamara, M.E. (2020) Controls on the skeletal taphonomy of anurans from the Eocene Geiseltal Konservat-Lagerstätte (Germany) Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, online [Details] | |
| (2020) | TaphCon, online McNamara, M.E., Rossi, V., Slater, T.S., Rogers, C.S., Ducrest, A.-L., Dubey, S., Roulin, A. (2020) Decoding the evolution of melanin in vertebrates TaphCon, online [Details] | |
| (2020) | TaphCon, online Falk, D., Wings, O., McNamara, M.E. (2020) Skeletal taphonomy of anurans from the Eocene Geiseltal Konservat-Lagerstätte (Germany) TaphCon, online [Details] | |
| (2020) | TaphCon, online Rossi, V., McNamara, M.E., Webb, S. (2020) Probing melanosome chemistry using experiments and fossils TaphCon, online [Details] | |
| (2020) | Junges Forum, online Falk, D., Wings, O., McNamara, M.E. (2020) Die eozänen Froschlurche der Geiseltal-Sammlung: Interdisziplinäre Zugänge zum Rätsel der Fossilerhaltung Junges Forum, online [Details] | |
| (2020) | ProgPal, online Falk, D., Wings, O., McNamara, M.E. (2020) Patterns in the skeletal taphonomy of anurans from the Eocene Geiseltal Konservat-Lagerstätte (Germany) ProgPal, online [Details] | |
| (2020) | Irish Geological Research Meeting, Athlone, online Falk, D., Wings, O., McNamara, M.E. (2020) Taphonomy of anurans from the Eocene Geiseltal Konservat-Lagerstätte Irish Geological Research Meeting, Athlone, online [Details] | |
| (2019) | 67th Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy, Isle of Wight, UK Slater, T.S., McNamara, M.E., Edwards, N., Webb, S. (2019) Investigating the biochemical fidelity of fossil feathers using sulfur speciation 67th Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy, Isle of Wight, UK [Details] | |
| (2019) | 67th Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy, Isle of Wight, UK Rossi, V., Webb, S., McNamara, M.E. (2019) Probing melanosome chemistry using experiments and fossils 67th Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy, Isle of Wight, UK [Details] | |
| (2019) | 67th Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy, Isle of Wight, UK McNamara, M.E., Slater, T.S., Unitt, R., Webb, S., Godefroit, P., Sinitsa, S., Dhouailly, D., Benton, M. (2019) Chemistry and ultrastructure of feathers and skin in an ornithischian dinosaur 67th Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy, Isle of Wight, UK [Details] | |
| (2019) | Annual Meeting of the European Association of Vertebrate Palaeontology, Brussels, Belgium Falk, D., McNamara, M.E., Wings, O. (2019) Taphonomy of anurans from the Eocene Geiseltal Konservat-Lagerstätte (Germany) Annual Meeting of the European Association of Vertebrate Palaeontology, Brussels, Belgium [Details] | |
| (2019) | Irish Geological Research Meeting, Dublin, Ireland Slater, T.S., McNamara, M.E., Webb, S. (2019) Investigating the biochemical fidelity of fossil feathers Irish Geological Research Meeting, Dublin, Ireland [Details] | |
| (2019) | Irish Geological Research Meeting, Dublin, Ireland Rossi, V., McNamara, M.E., Webb, S. (2019) Experimental taphonomy of melanosomes: impact on trace element chemistry Irish Geological Research Meeting, Dublin, Ireland [Details] | |
| (2018) | Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Bristol, UK Rogers, C.S., McNamara, M.E., Webb, S.M. (2018) Impact of diagenesis on the chemistry of vertebrate eye melanosomes Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Bristol, UK [Details] | |
| (2018) | Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Bristol, UK Rossi, McNamara, M.E., Webb, S. (2018) Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence of melanosomes reveals soft tissue anatomy in fossil vertebrates Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Bristol, UK [Details] | |
| (2018) | Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Bristol, UK Rossi, V., McNamara, M.E., Webb, S. (2018) Impact of resin on the trace element chemistry of melanosomes in fossil vertebrates Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Bristol, UK [Details] | |
| (2018) | Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Bristol, UK McDonald, L.T., Saranathan, V., Vukusic, P., McNamara, M.E. (2018) From order to disorder: Pleistocene scales reveal diverse 3D photonic nanostructures Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Bristol, UK [Details] | |
| (2018) | SSRL User Conference Rossi, McNamara, M.E., Webb, S. (2018) Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence of melanosomes reveals soft tissue anatomy in fossil vertebrates SSRL User Conference [Details] | |
| (2018) | International Palaeontological Congress (IPC) 5, Paris, France McNamara, M.E., Álvarez Armada, N., Webb, S., Gill, F. (2018) X-ray fluorescence as a tool for interpreting pigmentary colours in fossil insects International Palaeontological Congress (IPC) 5, Paris, France [Details] | |
| (2018) | International Palaeontological Congress (IPC) 5, Paris, France McNamara, M.E., Zhang, F., Kearns, S., Orr, P., Toulouse, A., Foley, T., Hone, D., Rogers, C., Benton, M., Xing, X. (2018) Exceptionally preserved skin structure reveals the coevolution of skin, feathers and metabolism in feathered dinosaurs and early birds International Palaeontological Congress (IPC) 5, Paris, France [Details] | |
| (2018) | Living Light, Cambridge, UK McNamara, M.E. (2018) Biophotonic structures in insects through deep time: insights from fossils and taphonomic experiments Living Light, Cambridge, UK [Details] | |
| (2017) | Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Seattle, USA McNamara, M.E., Lockyer, N., Godefroit, P., Douahilly, D., Benton, M.J., Sinitsa, S. (2017) Sulfur speciation in soft tissues from a Jurassic ornithischian dinosaur Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Seattle, USA [Details] | |
| (2017) | European Association of Vertebrate Paleontology, Munich, Germany McNamara, M.E. (2017) Preservation and biological significance of melanin in fossil vertebrates European Association of Vertebrate Paleontology, Munich, Germany [Details] | |
| (2017) | Goldschmidt 2017, Paris, France Álvarez Armada, N., McNamara, M.E., Webb, S.M., Gill, F.L. (2017) X-ray fluorescence as a tool for interpreting fossilized pigmentary colours Goldschmidt 2017, Paris, France [Details] | |
| (2017) | Goldschmidt 2017, Paris, France Rogers, C.S., McNamara, M.E., Webb, S.M. (2017) Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence reveals melanosome trace element chemistry in vertebrates and invertebrate chordates Goldschmidt 2017, Paris, France [Details] | |
| (2017) | Goldschmidt 2017, Paris, France Rossi, V., McNamara, M.E. (2017) Trace element chemistry of melanosomes revealed by synchrotron-X-ray fluorescence: a tool for interpreting fossil vertebrate soft tissue Goldschmidt 2017, Paris, France [Details] | |
| (2017) | 2017 International Workshop on Konservat-Lagerstatten, Cork, Ireland Álvarez Armada, N., McNamara, M.E., Kearns, S.L., Webb, S.M., Gill, F.L., McGraw, K.J. (2017) Biases in the fossil record of patterned insects 2017 International Workshop on Konservat-Lagerstatten, Cork, Ireland [Details] | |
| (2017) | 2017 International Workshop on Konservat-Lagerstatten, Cork, Ireland Astrop, T.I., Rogers, C.S., McNamara, M.E. (2017) What is a melanosome? Diverse types of pigment granules in extant cephalopods: implications for interpretations of fossil melanosomes 2017 International Workshop on Konservat-Lagerstatten, Cork, Ireland [Details] | |
| (2017) | 2017 International Workshop on Konservat-Lagerstatten, Cork, Ireland McDonald, L.T., McNamara, M.E., Vukusic, P. (2017) Diverse 3D photonic nanostructures in fossil insect scales 2017 International Workshop on Konservat-Lagerstatten, Cork, Ireland [Details] | |
| (2017) | 2017 International Workshop on Konservat-Lagerstatten, Cork, Ireland Odin, G.P., McNamara, M.E. (2017) Experimental taphonomy of circularly polarizing nanostructures in scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) 2017 International Workshop on Konservat-Lagerstatten, Cork, Ireland [Details] | |
| (2017) | 2017 International Workshop on Konservat-Lagerstatten, Cork, Ireland Rogers, C.S., McNamara, M.E. (2017) Tissue-specific trace element chemistry of melanosomes in vertebrates revealed by synchrotron X-ray fluorescence 2017 International Workshop on Konservat-Lagerstatten, Cork, Ireland [Details] | |
| (2017) | 2017 International Workshop on Konservat-Lagerstatten, Cork, Ireland Rossi, V., McNamara, M.E., Webb, S.M. (2017) Trace element chemistry of melanosomes revealed by synchrotron X-ray fluorescence: a tool for interpreting fossil vertebrate soft tissue 2017 International Workshop on Konservat-Lagerstatten, Cork, Ireland [Details] | |
| (2017) | 60th Irish Geological Research Meeting, Dublin, Ireland Álvarez Armada, N., McNamara, M.E., Webb, S.M., Gill, F.L. (2017) The colour of ancient insects: insights from synchrotron X-ray fluorescence 60th Irish Geological Research Meeting, Dublin, Ireland [Details] | |
| (2017) | 60th Irish Geological Research Meeting, Dublin, Ireland Rossi, V., McNamara, M.E. (2017) Significance of melanosomes in fossil vertebrate soft tissues: insights from morphology and trace element chemistry of melanosomes 60th Irish Geological Research Meeting, Dublin, Ireland [Details] | |
| (2016) | 60th Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association, Lyon, France Álvarez Armada, N., McNamara, M.E., Webb, S.M., Gill, F.L. (2016) The origins of colour patterns in fossil insects: insights from trace elements chemistry 60th Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association, Lyon, France [Details] | |
| (2016) | 60th Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association, Lyon, France McNamara, M.E., Godefroit, P., Dhouailly, D., Benton, M.J., Sinitsa, S.M., Bolotsky, Y.L., Sizov, A.V., Spagna, P. (2016) Ultrastructure and chemistry of integumentary structures in an ornithischian dinosaur 60th Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association, Lyon, France [Details] | |
| (2016) | 60th Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association, Lyon, France Rogers, C.S., McNamara, M.E. (2016) Using melanosomes to discriminate between tissues in vertebrate eyes 60th Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association, Lyon, France [Details] | |
| (2016) | 60th Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association, Lyon, France Rossi, V., McNamara, M.E. (2016) Discriminating between melanosomes from different tissues using geometry and trace element chemistry: a tool for interpreting fossil vertebrate soft tissue 60th Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association, Lyon, France [Details] | |
| (2016) | Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, Denver, Colorado, USA Álvarez Armada, N., McNamara, M.E., Webb, S.M., Gill, F.L. (2016) Spatial variation of cuticular trace elements in patterned insects Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, Denver, Colorado, USA [Details] | |
| (2016) | European Geosciences Union, Vienna, Austria McNamara, M.E., Field, D. (2016) Maturation experiments reveal bias in the fossil record of feathers European Geosciences Union, Vienna, Austria [Details] | |
| (2014) | 4th International Palaeontological Congress, Mendoza, Argentina McNamara, M.E., Kaye, J.S., Benton, M.J., Orr, P.J. (2014) Non-integumentary melanosomes can bias reconstructions of the colours of fossil vertebrate skin 4th International Palaeontological Congress, Mendoza, Argentina [Details] | |
| (2014) | 4th International Palaeontological Congress, Mendoza, Argentina McNamara, M.E., Locatelli, E.R., Kearns, S.L., Webb, S., Orr, P.J., Briggs, D.E.G., Qiu, L., Yang, S., Wang, Z. (2014) X-ray mapping of pigmentary colours in fossil and modern insects 4th International Palaeontological Congress, Mendoza, Argentina [Details] | |
| (2014) | 4th International Palaeontological Congress, Mendoza, Argentina Rogers, C.S., Benton M.J., McNamara, M.E. (2014) Experimental decay of avian integument: implications for the preservation of skin in the fossil record 4th International Palaeontological Congress, Mendoza, Argentina [Details] | |
| (2014) | Taphos: 7th International Meeting on Taphonomy and Fossilization, Ferrara, Italy McNamara, M.E., Kaye, J.S., Lockyer, N., Benton, M.J., Orr, P.J. (2014) Reconstructing the original colors of fossil vertebrate skin: implications of non-integumentary melanosomes Taphos: 7th International Meeting on Taphonomy and Fossilization, Ferrara, Italy [Details] | |
| (2014) | 57th Irish Geological Research Meeting, Dublin, Ireland McNamara, M.E., Orr, P.J., Kearns, S., Alcalá, L., Anadón, P., Peñalver, E. (2014) Complex colour patterning in a fossil snake 57th Irish Geological Research Meeting, Dublin, Ireland [Details] | |
| (2013) | 125th Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, Denver, Colorado, USA McNamara, M.E., Orr, P.J., Kearns, S., Alcalá, L., Anadón P., Peñalver, E. (2013) Color patterns in a fossil snake 125th Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, Denver, Colorado, USA [Details] | |
| (2012) | Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association, Dublin, Ireland McNamara, M.E. (2012) Colour in the fossil record: insights from experiments. Invited speaker at the symposium on ‘Taphonomic processes and the fidelity of the fossil record’ Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association, Dublin, Ireland [Details] | |
| (2012) | Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, Charlotte, USA McNamara, M.E., Briggs, D.E.G., Orr, P.J., Gupta, N.S., Locatelli, E.R., Qiu, L., Yang, H., Wang, Z., Noh, H., Cao, H. (2012) The fossil record of insect color illuminated by maturation experiments Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, Charlotte, USA [Details] | |
| (2012) | Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, Charlotte, USA McNamara, M.E., Locatelli, E.R., Webb, S., Briggs, D.E.G., Orr, P.J. (2012) Chemical fingerprinting of pigmentary colors in fossil insects Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, Charlotte, USA [Details] | |
| (2012) | Annual Symposium of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy, Oxford, UK McNamara, M.E., Briggs, D.E.G., Orr, P.J., Field, D., Wang, Z. (2012) Experimental maturation of feathers: implications for reconstructions of fossil feather colour Annual Symposium of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy, Oxford, UK [Details] | |
| (2011) | 60th Annual Meeting of the Lepidopterist’s Society, New Haven, CT, USA McNamara, M.E., Briggs, D.E.G., Orr, P.J. (2011) The original colors of fossil moths 60th Annual Meeting of the Lepidopterist’s Society, New Haven, CT, USA [Details] | |
| (2011) | Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, Denver, Colorado, USA McNamara, M.E., Briggs, D.E.G., Orr, P.J. (2011) The original colors of fossil moths Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, Denver, Colorado, USA [Details] | |
| (2011) | 55th Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association, Plymouth, UK McNamara, M.E., Briggs, D.E.G., Orr, P.J. (2011) The original colours of fossil moths 55th Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association, Plymouth, UK [Details] | |
| (2010) | 70th Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Pittsburgh, PE, USA Redelstorff, R., Orr, P.J., Kearns, S., McNamara, M.E. (2010) Die and rot: experimental taphonomy of tadpoles 70th Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Pittsburgh, PE, USA [Details] | |
| (2010) | 54th Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association, Ghent, Belgium McNamara, M.E., Briggs, D.E.G., Orr, P.J. (2010) Understanding fossil colour: preservation of structural colours in fossil beetles 54th Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association, Ghent, Belgium [Details] | |
| (2010) | 3rd International Palaeontological Congress, London McNamara, M.E., Orr, P.J. (2010) Experimental degradation of birds and mice: implications for the fossil record 3rd International Palaeontological Congress, London [Details] | |
| (2010) | 3rd International Palaeontological Congress, London McNamara, M.E., Orr, P.J., Kearns, S., Alcalà, L., Anadón, P., Peñalver-Mollá, E. (2010) A new integrated approach to taphonomic analysis of exceptionally preserved taxa 3rd International Palaeontological Congress, London [Details] | |
| (2010) | 3rd International Palaeontological Congress, London Redelstorff, R., Orr, P.J., Kearns, S., McNamara, M.E. (2010) Die and rot: experimental taphonomy of tadpoles 3rd International Palaeontological Congress, London [Details] | |
| (2009) | 53rd Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association, Birmingham, UK McNamara, M.E., Orr, P.J., Kearns, S., Alcalà, L., Anadón, P., Peñalver-Mollá, E. (2009) Organic preservation of fossil musculature with ultracellular detail 53rd Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association, Birmingham, UK [Details] | |
| (2008) | 1st meeting of the Northern Environmental Education Development Project, Hofn, Iceland McNamara, M.E. (2008) Geological evolution of the Burren region, western Ireland 1st meeting of the Northern Environmental Education Development Project, Hofn, Iceland [Details] | |
| (2008) | 2nd Geoparks Ireland Forum, Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark, Fermanagh, Ireland McNamara, M.E. (2008) The Burren Geopark Project: a work in progress 2nd Geoparks Ireland Forum, Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark, Fermanagh, Ireland [Details] | |
| (2008) | 52nd Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association, Glasgow, Scotland McNamara, M.E., Orr, P.J. (2008) Experimental taphonomy of vertebrates: tissue degradation, disarticulation, and implications for the fossil record 52nd Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association, Glasgow, Scotland [Details] |
Book Chapters
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2021) | 'The Burren: a model for sustainable tourism' McNamara, M.E., Doyle, E. (2021) 'The Burren: a model for sustainable tourism' In: Cummins, V (eds). A Coastal Atlas of Ireland. Ireland: Cork University Press. [Details] | |
| (2020) | 'Integumentary structures in Kulindadromeus zabaikalicus, a basal neornithischian dinosaur from the Jurassic of Siberia' Godefroit, P., Sinitsa, S.M., Cincotta, A., McNamara, M.E., Reshetova, S.A., Dhouailly, D. (2020) 'Integumentary structures in Kulindadromeus zabaikalicus, a basal neornithischian dinosaur from the Jurassic of Siberia' In: Foth, C., Rauhut, O.W.M (eds). The Evolution of Feathers: from their Origin to the Present. USA: Springer. [Details] | |
| (2010) | 'The Libros biota' McNamara, M.E. (2010) 'The Libros biota' In: Alcalá, L., Calvo, J.P., Simón, J.L (eds). Geologia de Teruel. Teruel, Spain: Instituto de Estudios Turolenses. [Details] |
Professional Activities
Honours and Awards
| Year | Title | Awarding Body | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | UCC’s Research Team of the Year Award | University College Cork | |
| 2023 | College of SEFS Citizenship Award 2023 (nominated) | University College Cork | |
| 2021 | College of SEFS Student Nominated Staff Awards 2021 (nominated) | University College Cork | |
| 2020 | Research Laboratory of the Year (finalist) | Irish Lab Awards | |
| 2019 | Top 20 most cited paper in Palaeontology | Wiley Publishers | |
| 2019 | Start-up Laboratory of the Year (winner) | Irish Lab Awards 2019 | |
| 2019 | Research Laboratory of the Year (finalist) | Irish Lab Awards 2019 | |
| 2019 | Invited to meet President of Ireland as Celebration of ‘Women in Science’ | Dr Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin | |
| 2019 | Fronted Women in Science at UCC | UCC's media campaign | |
| 2018 | Fronted Science Week at UCC | UCC's media campaign | |
| 2017 | Paleonturology Award 2017 (recognizes outstanding palaeontological research) | Fundacion Conjunto Paleontologico de Teruel – Dinópolis | |
| 2016 | Selected to take part in the ‘Women on Walls’ programme To honour leading Irish female scientists by commissioning a new portrait for permanent display at the Royal Irish Academy | Royal Irish Academy | |
| 2016 | Invited to meet President of Ireland as Celebration of ‘Women in Science’ | Dr Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin | |
| 2014 | Early Career Researcher of the Year | University College Cork | |
| 2014 | Hodson Award (conferred on a palaeontologist who has had no more than 10 years of full time experience after their PhD and who has made a notable contribution to the science) | The Palaeontological Association | |
| 2012 | Selected to host exhibit of prehistoric colours in fossil insects and feathers’ at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, London | The Royal Society | |
| 2010 | Palaios Best Paper of 2009 (for my 2009 manuscript 'Soft tissue preservation in Miocene frogs from Libros (Spain): insights into the genesis of decay microenvironments') | Palaios | |
| 2009 | British Science Association Charles Lyell Award for science communication | British Science Association | |
| 2005 | Irish Geological Research Meeting Best Oral Presentation | Irish Geological Association | |
| 2005 | The Palaeontological Association President's Prize | The Palaeontological Association | |
| 2003 | The Palaeontological Association President's Prize | The Palaeontological Association |
Professional Associations
| Association | Function | From / To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Palaeontological Association | Member of Council, specific role: Education Officer | 01-JAN-02 / 31-DEC-20 | |
| International Palaeontological Association | Professional membership | 01-JAN-04 / | |
| Geological Society of America | Professional membership | 01-JAN-12 / | |
| Paleontological Society | Professional membership | 01-JAN-12 / |
Committees
| Committee | Function | From / To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEES Website working group | Member | 2020 / | |
| University Civic and Community Engagement Committee | Member | 2019 / | |
| BEES Education and Public Engagement Committee | Chair | 2018 / 2021 | |
| SEFS Outreach Committee | Chair | 2018 / 2021 | |
| Athena SWAN Committee, School of BEES | Member | 2017 / | |
| Research Space working group, School of BEES | Member | 2017 / 2018 | |
| BEES Outreach Group | Co-ordinator | 2016 / 2018 | |
| School of BEES library representative | Representative | 2014 / | |
| School of BEES Research Committee | Core member of RQR team | 2014 / |
Employment
| Employer | Position | From / To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| University College Cork | Full Professor of Palaeontology | 01-DEC-20 / | |
| University College Cork | Professor in Geology | 01-NOV-20 / 30-NOV-20 | |
| University College Cork | Senior Lecturer in Geology | 01-MAY-16 / 17-NOV-20 | |
| University College Cork | Lecturer in Geology | 01-MAY-13 / 30-APR-16 | |
| Geological Survey of Ireland / Clare County Council | Geopark Geologist | 01-AUG-08 / 31-JUL-09 | |
| University of Bristol | Postgraduate Researcher | 01-SEP-12 / 30-APR-13 | |
| Yale University / University College Dublin | Marie Curie Postdoctoral Research Fellow | 01-OCT-09 / 31-AUG-12 | |
| University College Dublin | IRCSET Postdoctoral Research Fellow | 01-DEC-06 / 31-JUL-08 |
Education
| Year | Institution | Qualification | Subject | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | University College Dublin | PhD | Palaeobiology | |
| 2002 | National University of Ireland, Galway | BSc | Earth Science |
Outreach Activities
| Description | |
|---|---|
June 2023: Co-ordinator of Ireland’s Fossil Heritage exhibit at Cork Carnival of Science. | |
May 2023: Delivered three public tours of the palaeontology laboratory facilities at the School of BEES. | |
May 2023: “Irish Fossils Alive” national art competition and exhibition in Glucksman Gallery. | |
Apr 2023: Designing and filming of three educational videos on palaeontology. | |
Mar 2023: Two public walks and one exhibit for Cork’s Lifelong Learning Festival. “City walk: fossils of Cork city’s building stones: an urban fossil treasure trove.” “UCC campus walk: fossils of UCC’s building stones”. Exhibit: “Fossils for our Future”. https://corklearningcity.ie/lifelong-learning-festival/. | |
Feb 2023: Invited as a speaker at “Kinsale Ideas”, Kinsale, Cork. | |
Feb 2023: Workshop on the fossil record with TYP boys from Presentation Brothers College, Cork. | |
Feb 2023: Three Ireland’s Fossil Heritage school workshops at Coachford College. | |
Dec 2022: Soil research featured in the Echo. https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/arid-41023607.html. | |
Nov 2022: Exhibited Ireland’s Fossil Heritage at the Cork Science Festival at Western Gateway Building. | |
Oct 2022: Ireland’s Fossil Heritage school workshop at Gaelscoil an Ghoirt Álainn. | |
Oct 2022: Ireland’s Fossil Heritage school workshop at Gaelscoil Carraig Uí Léinn. | |
Aug 2022: Delivered workshop on media communication to early career researchers at the 15th International Seabird Group Conference, Cork, Ireland. | |
July 2022: Organised (in conjunction with the RIA and PalAss) an Academy Discourse public lecture by Larisa DeSantis at the Aula Max, UCC. ‘Decoding the past to conserve our future’. | |
July 2022: Organised and delivered ‘Family Fossil Expo’ at the School of BEES, UCC. | |
June 2022: Zoom session with infants’ classes in Ballyvongane National School. | |
June 2022: Zoom session with Scoil Réalta in Listowel. | |
June 2022: Ireland’s Fossil Heritage workshop at YMCA Cork. | |
June 2022: Ireland’s Fossil Heritage exhibit at Cork Carnival of Science. | |
June 2022: “Irish Fossils Alive” national art competition and exhibition in Glucksman Gallery. | |
June 2022: “Fossil Freaks” exhibition in Glucksman Gallery. | |
May 2022: Delivered three public tours of the palaeontology laboratory facilities at the School of BEES. | |
Apr-May 2022: Development of the Fossil Freaks STEAM art workshops (delivered via 5 workshops each to 4th class of Cork Educate Together National School and to 6th class of St. Mary’s on the Hill National School). | |
Mar 2022: Ireland’s Fossil Heritage school workshop at Muinefliuch National School. | |
Mar 2022: Ireland’s Fossil Heritage school workshop at Carrigaline National School. | |
Feb 2022: Ireland’s Fossil Heritage school workshop at Ballyvongane National School. | |
Dec 2021: Interviewed for the Unravelling Science Podcast ‘Episode 41: Prof Maria McNamara: Paleontology, Fossils and The Natural World’. Broadcast 14/12/2021. https://unravellingscience.podbean.com/e/episode-41-prof-maria-mcnamara-paleontology-fossils-and-the-natural-world/ | |
Nov 2021: Launch of new video for Ireland’s Fossil Heritage website. | |
Nov 2021: Careers discussion with Leaving Cert Applied students with autism at Holy Spirit School, Kilkenny. | |
Nov 2021: Launch of Ireland’s Fossil Heritage website and social media accounts (Twitter, FB, Instagram). | |
Nov 2021: Fossil ID session with 4th class pupils from Our Lady of Lourdes NS, Cork. | |
Oct 2021: Engagement with schoolteachers as part of the co-creation of content for school fossil workshops (12th and 19th Oct). | |
July 2021-Aug 2023: Managed SFI Discover Programme expansion project: ‘Ireland’s secret past: unlocking our fossil heritage’. | |
May 2021: Scripting new CK404 videos for the Graduate Attributes Programme. | |
May 2021: Scripting new Mary Ward Lab video for the Graduate Attributes Programme. | |
May 2021: Keynote speaker for Pint of Science Cork. | |
May 2021: Interviewed for the RTE geoscience documentary “The Island”. | |
May 2021: Launched careers survey with secondary school students. | |
Mar 2021: Evaluation panel member for the TCD School of Natural Sciences Postgraduate Symposium. | |
Dec 2020: Featured in a special episode on “Dinosaurs” for the TG4 programme “Is Eolaí Mé”. | |
Nov 2020: Zoom session with Dunmanway Primary School, Cork on palaeontology as part of European Researcher’s Night. | |
Oct 2020: Lyme Regis Virtual Fossil Festival. | |
Feb 2020: Developed website for SFI Discover project ‘Ireland’s fossil heritage’: https://irelandsfossilheritage.wordpress.com/ | |
Feb 2020: Initial development of new initiative linking palaeontologists with schoolchildren attending schools in disadvantaged areas. | |
Jan 2020: Developed new promotional videos for the BSc Geology and BSc Applied Plant Biology degrees and for the CK404 stream in the School of BEES. | |
Jan 2020: Recorded new YouTube video for the Palaeontological Association on fossil colour (to be uploaded Feb 2020). | |
Jan 2020: Represented UCC SEFS at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, RDS, Dublin. | |
Jan 2020: Interviewed on Newstalk’s dedicated science programme ‘Futureproof’ on our recent paper on the Tully Monster. https://www.newstalk.com/shows/futureproof-234909 | |
Dec 2019: Piloted the new exhibit ‘Fossil Crime Scene: Ireland’ to 7 schools in Cork and Roscommon. | |
May 2019: Co-organised and designed a new exhibit for the Palaeontological Association, Lyme Regis Fossil Festival, UK. | |
Nov 2019: Exhibited ‘Fossil Crime Scene Ireland’ at the Cork Science Festival at Western Gateway Building. | |
Nov 2019: Exhibited ‘Fossil Crime Scene Ireland’ at Mayfield Library during Science Week. | |
Oct 2019: Coordinated ‘Under the microscope’, a public workshop showcasing SEM, for UCC Community Week. | |
Sept 2019: Coordinated ‘Take a closer look: under the microscope’, a public workshop showcasing SEM and Raman spectroscopy for Cork Discovers (European Researchers Night). | |
Sept 2019: Coordinated the School of BEES exhibition for Culture Night; managed >60 BEES participants. > 260 attendees. | |
Nov 2019: Finalist in the Sodium Zone in I’m a Scientist – Get me out of here! Ireland. | |
May 2019: Delivered a talk at Pint of Science Cork 2019. | |
March 2019: Hosted an exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution Deep Time Family Outreach event. | |
Feb 2019: Hosted the inaugural ‘Geoscience Open Day’ at the School of BEES, with 15 registered participants. | |
Jan 2019: Hosted ‘Walk like a dinosaur’ at the BT Young Scientist Exhibition, RDS, Dublin. | |
Dec 2018: Developed new recruitment videos for Geology at UCC: ‘Geology is…’ and ‘Women in Geology’. https://www.ucc.ie/en/bees/courses/undergrad/geology/ | |
Nov 2018: Hosted ‘Walk like a dinosaur’ at Science Week at UCC’s Western Gateway Building. | |
Nov 2018: Hosted ‘Walk like a dinosaur’ at Cork Community Science event at Neptune Stadium. | |
Sept 2018: Lead organiser of ‘Culture Night’ at the School of BEES. | |
Sept 2018: Team member, Palaeontological Association exhibit, Scarborough Fossil Festival, UK. | |
April 2019: Delivered interactive lecture on fossils as part of the joint UNESCO / UCC / Cork Co. Co. programme ‘Learning Neighbourhoods’ Lifelong Learning Festival. | |
Mar 2018: Hosted ‘Girls into Geoscience’ at University College Cork. | |
Jan 2018: Hosted an exhibit at the ‘I Wish’ science exhibition, City Hall, Cork. | |
May 2018: Team member, Palaeontological Association exhibit, Lyme Regis Fossil Festival, UK. | |
Jan 2018: Hosted an exhibit at the BT Young Scientist Exhibition, RDS, Dublin. | |
July 2018: Developed materials for the UCC stand at the ‘Mad Scientist’ exhibition at Fota Wildlife Park. | |
Nov 2017: Hosted an exhibit ‘Walk like a dinosaur’ at Cork Science Festival. | |
Sept 2017: Team member, Palaeontological Association exhibit, Yorkshire Fossil Festival. | |
Sept 2017: Organiser of ‘Culture Night’ at the School of BEES. | |
Jul 2017: Hosted an exhibit at the ‘Mad Scientist’ exhibition at Fota Wildlife Park. | |
Apr 2017: Delivered two interactive lectures on fossil colour as part of the joint UNESCO / UCC / Cork Co. Co. programme ‘Learning Neighbourhoods’. | |
Mar 2017: Participant in the ‘Tools of the Trade’ outreach initiative exploring the links between science and art in Cork city schools. | |
Mar 2016: Delivered an interactive lecture on fossil colour as part of the joint UNESCO / UCC / Cork Co. Co. programme ‘Learning Neighbourhoods’. | |
Jan 2016: Developed materials for the UCC stand at the BT Young Scientist exhibition, Cork. | |
Nov 2015: Developed a new exhibit ‘Walk like a Dinosaur’ at the Cork Science Festival exhibition, City Hall, Cork. | |
Nov 2014: Presented the ‘Prehistoric colours’ exhibit (see below) at the Discovery Science Festival, Cork. | |
Oct – Dec 2014: Developed the interactive public exhibit ‘The evolution of behaviour: perspectives from the past and present’. Boole Library, UCC. | |
Jul – Dec 2014: Scientific advisor to the public exhibit ‘Fieldworks’. Lewis Glucksman Gallery, UCC. | |
Sept 2014: Interviewed by The Sunday Times for the feature 'This is my life: Maria McNamara, Palaeontologist'. | |
Aug 2014: Presented modules on palaeontology as part of the UCC Eureka! Science summer camps for children (7-11 yrs). | |
Jul 2014: Extensive media activities related to my co-authored paper on the evolution of feathers published in Science. (i) Developed a short video explaining the research for the public (ii) Interviewed on RTE Six-One news (iii) Interviews for radio: Mooney Goes Wild, Newstalk, RTE, BBC | |
May 2014: Team member at the Palaeontological Association stand at the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival, Lyme Regis, UK. | |
Apr 2014: Judge for the regional heat of the international 'Stand-up Science' event. | |
Mar 2014: Taught modules on palaeontology to secondary school students as part of the UCC School of BEES Transition Year Programme. | |
Feb 2014: featured in an episode of the BBC series: ‘Fossil wonderlands: Nature’s hidden treasures’. | |
Nov 2013: Hosted the interactive public exhibit 'Prehistoric colours' at the Discovery Science Festival, Cork. | |
Nov 2013: Hosted the interactive public exhibit ‘Prehistoric colours’ at the Geologists’ Association Festival of Geology, London. | |
Aug 2013: Presented the exhibit 'Prehistoric Colours' at the World Science and Technology fair (Bangkok, Thailand). Selected to represent the UK by the British Science Association. | |
2013 – present: Hosts a public webpage mariamcnamara.ucc.ie that features regular updates on research news, publications, outreach activities, interactive videos and more. | |
2009 – 2012: Volunteer at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. (i) Delivered biweekly interactive classes entitled ‘Rocks and Minerals’ to schoolchildren. (ii) Participated in the annual 'Meet the Scientist' event at the annual Peabody Museum Open Day. (iii) Participated as a judge in the annual 'Paleoknowledge Bowl' (palaeontology competition for kindergarten schoolchildren). | |
2008 – 2009: Extensive and diverse geoscience public outreach activities. (i) Developed geoscience modules for primary and second-level school students and geotourism-related businesses (ii) co-ordinated a 7-day geoscience festival (iii) developed educational materials for geosites within the Burren-Cliffs of Moher Geopark, Ireland (iv) Published the following commercially available booklets through Burren Connect, Ennistymon, Co. Clare: (1) McNamara, M.E. & Hennessy, R.W. 2010. Stone, water and ice: the Geology of the Burren region, Ireland. 32 pp. (2) Hennessy, R.W., McNamara, M.E., & Hoctor, Z. 2010. Stone, water and ice: a geology trip through the Burren. 64 pp. (3) Hennessy, R.W., McNamara, M.E., & Hoctor, Z. 2010. Stone, water and ice: geoscience modules for primary level. 51 pp. + multimedia CD. (v) Wrote a weekly geoscience column in the 'Clare Champion' regional newspaper (vi) Was interviewed in an episode of the RTE TV series 'EcoEye' |
Journal Activities
| Journal | Role | To / From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journal Of Taphonomy | Member of Editorial Board | - | |
| Plos Biology | Referee | - | |
| Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences | Referee | - | |
| Palaios | Referee | - | |
| Nature | Referee | - | |
| Proceedings Of The Royal Society B-Biological Sciences | Referee | - | |
| Journal Of Vertebrate Paleontology | Referee | - | |
| Cretaceous Research | Referee | - | |
| Acta Paleontologica Polonica | Referee | - | |
| Lethaia | Referee | - |
Other Activities
| Description | |
|---|---|
Grant Reviewer2020: Reviewer for Carnegie Trust Research Incentive Grants | |
Examination2022: Independent chair, PhD viva, UCC. PhD thesis submitted by Joan Lenihan (supervised by Dr Paul Young in School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology). 2020 – present: External examiner, BSc and MGeol Palaeobiology, School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, University of Leicester, UK 2020: Independent Chair, PhD examination, UCC. PhD thesis submitted by Caoimhe Robinson (supervised by Alan O’Riordan and Emer Kelly) 2018: Opponent (external examiner), University of Lund, Sweden. PhD thesis submitted by Johan Gren (supervised by Johan Lindgren and Mats Eriksson). ‘Molecular, micro- and ultrastructural investigations of labile tissues in deep time’ 2017: External examiner, University of Namur, Belgium. PhD thesis submitted by Aude Cincotta (supervised by Pascal Godefroit and Johan Yans). ‘Soft tissue preservation in ornithischian dinosaurs’ | |
Education Officer2017 - 2020: Education Officer for the Palaeontological Association | |
Editorship2016 - 2018: Editor of the Palaeontological Association Newsletter | |
Organization of scientific meetings & workshops2022: Lead organizer of the four-day Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Cork. One of the premier international meetings on palaeontology. Attended by 188 delegates, including seven invited speakers2017: Organizer of the 2017 International Workshop on Konservat-Lagerstätten, held at University College Cork over two days in July 2017 2013: Host of a symposium at the 125th Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America. ‘Konservat-Lagerstatten: morphology, ecology, and taphonomy of exceptionally preserved fossils.’ 25 oral contributions (including 5 solicited invited speakers) | |
Invited lectures: keynotes2023: ‘A new perspective on the evolution of melanin in vertebrates.’ Ecology and Evolution Ireland 2023, Dublin. 2021: ‘Melanin through deep time’. 3rd Virtual Palaeontological Congress. 2021: ‘Unravelling the evolution of vertebrate melanin using microbeam and spectroscopic approaches.’ Rory Comerford Memorial Lecture. Microscopy Society of Ireland Annual Meeting. 2020: ‘How confident are we in interpreting the fossil record of melanin?’. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting (online). 2020: ‘Finding fossil melanin – a methodological framework’. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting (online). 2020: ‘Melanin through deep time: experimental and analytical approaches to decoding the fossil record of melanin.’ Microscopy & Microanalysis 2020, Milwaukee (online meeting). 2019: ‘Not just skin deep: probing the secrets of fossil melanin using taphonomic experiments and analytical chemistry.’ Annual Address at the Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting. Valencia, Spain. 2019: ‘How and why life evolved color’. Deep Time Symposium: Life’s Greatest Hits: Key Events in Evolution. Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Washington DC. 2018: ‘Chemical and ultrastructural characterization of coloured soft tissues in fossil vertebrates and insects.’ Keynote. Annual Meeting of the European Microbeam Analysis Society. Bristol, UK. 2018: ‘The integument of fossil vertebrates: evolution, physiology and behaviour.’ Plenary lecture. GeoBonn, Bonn. 2017: ‘Preservation and biological significance of melanin in fossil vertebrates.’ Keynote. Annual Meeting of the European Association for Vertebrate Palaeontology, Munich, Germany. 2017: ‘Maturation experiments reveal bias in the fossil record of feathers.’ European Geosciences Union, Vienna, Austria. | |
Invited lectures: seminars2023: ‘Working with the media: a scientist’s perspective’. UKSG Publication to Press seminar: Building trust in research communication. 2023: ‘A new perspective on the evolution of melanin in vertebrates.’ Polish Institute of Palaeontology (virtual). 2023: ‘A kaleidoscope of fossil colour: what we know about colour in ancient animals.’ Joly Geological Society, Dept. of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin. 2023: ‘The secrets of spectacular fossils: using new toolkits to revolutionise palaeontology.’ Inaugural Professorial Lecture, UCC. 2022: ‘Can fossils inform on the evolution of the vertebrate integument?’. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences seminar at University of Manchester. 2022: ‘Fossil colour – the study of the original coloration of ancient organisms’. Natural History Museum of Utah DinoFest. 2022: ‘My ERC application experience’. SFI ERC workshop. 2021: ‘My STEM career: goals, choices and more.’ School of Natural Sciences Postgraduate Symposium, Trinity College Dublin. 2021: ‘Not just a pretty pigment: how melanin has shaped the evolution of vertebrates’. Dept. of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga. 2020: ‘Life as a palaeontologist – pros/cons, goals and choices’. Irish Association for Women Geoscientists Pathfinders event. School of Geological Sciences, UCD. 2020: ‘Fossils in technicolour’. Cork Literary and Science Society. 2019: ‘Synchrotron applications in the chemical taphonomy of fossil soft tissues: insights into biology, chemistry and diagenesis’. Faculty of Geosciences and Environment, University of Lausanne. 2019: ‘Synchrotron applications in the chemical taphonomy of fossil soft tissues: insights into biology, chemistry and diagenesis’. School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of St Andrews. 2019: ‘Fossils in technicolour: detection and applications of fossil colour.’ Irish Geological Association, Dublin. 2019: ‘Fossils in technicolour: detection and applications of fossil colour’. Galway Geological Association. 2019: ‘Women in Science – a palaeontologist’s perspective.’ UCD Biological Society Women in Science event 2019: ‘Evolution of the vertebrate integument: problems, approaches and new directions’. Hilgendorf Lecture. University of Tübingen, Germany. 2018: ‘Fossil insights into the evolution of the vertebrate integument.’ University College Dublin, School of Earth Sciences seminar series. 2018: ‘Fossil melanosomes: going forwards’. Dept. of Life Sciences, Bath University. 2018: ‘Fossil integument – taphonomy, evolution, behaviour.’ Dept. of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol. 2017: ‘Communication and science’. UCC Quercus students (UCC’s Talented Students programme). 2017: ‘Fossil melanosomes: going beyond fossil colour’. Dept. of Palaeontology, Zurich University. 2017: ‘Advances in the study of fossil colour’. Geologists’ Association, London. 2016: ‘Colouring in the fossil record: insights from fossilized pigments.’ Trinity College Dublin, Dept. of Geology seminar series. 2016: ‘Colouring in the fossil record: insights from fossilized pigments.’ Natural History Museum London, Dept. of Earth Sciences seminar series. 2014: International Palaeontological Convention, Mendoza, Argentina: invited presentations at two symposia: ‘Rotten fossils? Experimental and analytical approaches to decay and exceptional preservation of soft tissues’ and ‘Paleontology of superb fossil Lagerstätten of China.’ 2014: ‘Experimental maturation of coloured tissues and implications for the fossil record’. University of Leeds, School of Earth and Environment seminar series. 2013: ‘The fossil record in technicolour’. Geologists’ Association Festival of Geology, London. 2012: ‘The colours of fossil insects and feathers.’ Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Beijing, China. 2012: ‘Colour in the fossil record: insights from experiments.’ Symposium on ‘Taphonomic processes and the fidelity of the fossil record’, Annual Meeting of the Palaeontological Association, Dublin. 2012: ‘Squashing bugs to understand fossil color: the fossil record and evolution of structural colors in insects’ British Science Festival, University of Aberdeen. 2012: ‘Ancient insects in technicolor: the preservation and evolution of insect structural colors’. Yale Institute of Biospheric Studies Seminar Series, Yale University. 2009: ‘What rots? How dead animals decompose and its importance for decoding the history of life.’ British Festival of Science Charles Lyell Award Lecture, Surrey, UK. |
Teaching Activities
Recent Postgraduates
| Graduation Year | Student Name | Institution | Degree Type | Thesis Title | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Tiffany Slater | University College Cork | PhD | The taphonomy of keratinous tissues | |
| 2020 | Valentina Rossi | University College Cork | PhD | The taphonomy of vertebrate melanosomes | |
| 2018 | Chris Hazeley | University of Bristol | MSc | Chemical and morphological preservation of feathers from the Jehol biota | |
| 2017 | Chris Rogers | University of Bristol | PhD | Taphonomy of vertebrates in the Cretaceous Jehol Biota (China) | |
| 2014 | Jonathan Kaye | University of Bristol | MSc | The taphonomy of melanosomes in non-avian vertebrates |
Current Postgraduate Students
| Student | Degree Type | |
|---|---|---|
| Carazo del Hoyo Beatriz | Doctoral Degree | |
| Binner Hannah | Doctoral Degree | |
| Bean Hollie Elizabeth | Doctoral Degree | |
| Quigley Aaron Jonathon | Doctoral Degree | |
| Cirtina Daniel Jonathan | Doctoral Degree | |
| Falk Daniel | Doctoral Degree |
Research Information
Internal Collaborators
| Name | Institute | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conor Cashman | UCC Applied Social Studies | IRELAND | |
| Dr Tom Doyle | UCC School of BEES | IRELAND | |
| Dr Benjamin Gearey | UCC School of Archaeology | IRELAND | |
| Prof. Marcel Jansen | UCC School of BEES | IRELAND | |
| Dr Chris Mays | UCC School of BEES | IRELAND | |
| Dr Siobhán O'Sullivan | UCC Applied Social Studies | IRELAND | |
| Dr Tim Sullivan | UCC School of BEES | IRELAND |
External Collaborators
| Name | Organisation / Institute | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prof. Mike Benton | University of Bristol | UNITED KINGDOM | |
| Prof. Derek Briggs | Yale University | U.S.A. | |
| Dr Fiona Gill | Leeds University | UNITED KINGDOM | |
| Dr Pascal Godefroit | Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences | BELGIUM | |
| Dr Stuart Kearns | University of Bristol | UNITED KINGDOM | |
| Dr Nick Lockyer | University of Manchester | UNITED KINGDOM | |
| Dr Patrick Orr | University College Dublin | IRELAND | |
| Prof. Dong Ren | Capital Normal University | CHINA | |
| Dr Samuel Webb | Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource | U.S.A. | |
| Dr Sonja Wedmann | Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg | GERMANY |
Contact details
- Maria Eithne McNamara
Professor in Geology - maria.mcnamara(at)ucc.ie
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Distillery Fields, North Mall
University College Cork
Cork - +353 21 490 4570
- mariamcnamara.ucc.ie