In 2009, Chinese paleontologists named the new species, Confuciusornis feducciai, after him for his contributions to the study of the origin and evolution of birds.
CHAPEL HILL, NC, December 06, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Alan Feduccia, PhD, with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Dr. Feduccia celebrates many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
A notable evolutionary biologist, Dr. Feduccia has earned the designation of S.K. Heninger Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retiring in 2007, he initially began his tenure at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1971, rising to full professor in 1979. Serving as Chair of the Department of Biology between 1997 and 2002, he cemented his legacy at the academic institution by focusing on genomic sciences, hiring numerous new faculty members and pioneering the new UNC Genome Sciences Building.
Dr. Feduccia also excelled as the Chair of the Division of Natural Sciences between 1996 and 1997. Serving two terms on the UNC Press's board of governors, Dr. Feduccia was appointed to the board of directors of the Arts and Sciences Foundation, as well as the board of trustees of the UNC Botanical Garden and the Organization for Tropical Studies, among other roles. Dr. Feduccia also spent nearly a decade as a research associate at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington beginning in 1978, where he wrote The Age of Birds (Harvard University Press, 1980), the first attempt at a synthesis of bird evolution since 1926.
Dr. Feduccia's early research in evolutionary biology led to his 'Big Bang' explosive evolution model for birds and mammals. First presented in a plenary lecture in 1975 in Winnipeg, amid substantial opposition, and first published in Science in 1995. Known for opposing the scientific consensus that birds are living theropod dinosaurs, he has argued birds share a common stem-ancestor with theropod dinosaurs among basal archosaurian lineages and the "feathered dinosaurs" are in reality "hidden birds of China." Notable discoveries include proof that early birds could fly (Science, 1979) and discovery of the avian thumb in ostrich embryos (2002). Dr. Feduccia has since continued on the studies of vertebrate evolution, as well as conservation biology.
During his career, Dr. Feduccia has had the opportunity to travel extensively to the Neotropics to participate in various natural history exploratory expeditions. He has also written extensively in his field. In 2012, Dr. Feduccia released his latest book, "Riddle of the Feathered Dragons," through Yale University Press (2012). Providing the most comprehensive discussion yet of the avian and associated evidence found in China, Dr. Feduccia exposes the massive, unfounded speculation that has accompanied these discoveries.
Dr. Feduccia's seven books include the award-winning "The Origin and Evolution of Birds" in 1996, as well as "Birds of Colonial Williamsburg" in 1989, "Catesby's Birds of Colonial America" in 1985 and "Structure and Evolution of Vertebrates" in 1975. He has additionally contributed more than 180 articles to various peer-reviewed journals, as well as five monographs. He has made frequent appearances on National Public Radio, BBC, Voice of America, CNN, the McNeal/Lehrer Report and Japan's NHK. Furthermore, in 2015, Dr. Feduccia was quoted in Duke University magazine's summer issue on the new massive whole genome analyses of bird orders led by Erich Jarvis, which provided critical proof of his 'Big Bang' theory of modern bird evolution following the extinction event that closed the Cretaceous Period.
Dr. Feduccia was recognized as a Watkins Visiting Professor at Wichita State University in 2002. He was further elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and fellow of the American Ornithologists' Union. In 2002, he was honored Smithsonian Distinguished Lecturer by the Smithsonian Institution, and has since been featured in several editions of Who's Who in America and Who's Who in Science and Engineering.
In 2008, UNC established the Alan Feduccia Distinguished Professorship in his honor. In 2009, Chinese paleontologists named the new species, Confuciusornis feducciai, after him for his contributions to the study of the origin and evolution of birds. Dr. Feduccia holds a B.S. in zoology from Louisiana State University and a M.A. and Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Michigan.
In recognition of outstanding contributions to his profession and the Marquis Who's Who community, Alan Feduccia, PhD, has been featured on the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement website. Please visit www.ltachievers.com for more information about this honor.
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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