Jordi Agustí facts for kids
Jordi Agustí is a Spanish paleontologist. He works at a research center called the Instituto de Paleoecología Humana y Evolución Social at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili. His main work involves studying the fossils of ancient mammals. He looks at how these animals changed over the last 10 million years. He also studies how these changes are connected to shifts in Earth's climate.
What is a Paleontologist?
A paleontologist is a scientist who studies fossils. Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of ancient life, like bones, shells, or footprints. By studying fossils, paleontologists learn about plants and animals that lived long ago. They also learn about Earth's history and how life has changed over millions of years.
Discoveries and Research
Jordi Agustí has led many important research projects. He has worked in different parts of the world, including Europe and North Africa. One of his big achievements was being part of the team that found some of the oldest Eurasian hominids in Dmanisi, Georgia. Hominids are a group that includes humans and our close ancestors. Finding these ancient remains helps scientists understand how early humans spread across the world.
Books and Awards
Jordi Agustí has written several books about science. These books help explain complex ideas about evolution and Earth's history to a wider audience. Some of his books include:
- La evolución y sus metáforas (1994)
- Mammoths, sabertooths, and Hominids (2002)
- Fósiles, genes y teorías (2003)
- El ajedrez de la vida (2010)
- La gran migración (2011)
- Los primeros pobladores de Europa (2012)
- (with Enric Bufill and Marina Mosquera) El precio de la inteligencia (2012)
In 2002, he won the Premio de Literatura Científica (Science Literature Award). He received this award from the Fundació Catalana per a la Recerca i la innovació for his book El secreto de Darwin. The next year, the Generalitat de Catalunya gave him the Narcís Monturiol Medal. This medal is a special honor given for scientific achievements.
