Dr. Martin Lockley received the Korean Presidential Citation for Contribution to Cultural Heritage Protection
Dr. Martin Lockley, Professor Emeritus Geology, University of Colorado Denver; Associate Curator University of Colorado; and Co-Founder of Friends of Dinosaur Ridge received the Presidential Award for his distinguished achievement on Dinosaur Track Research. This is the first award given to a paleontologist in Korean history. He is only the second non-Korean to receive this award.
The award ceremony was held on December 8, 2020 in Seoul, South Korea at the Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation’s Folk Theater Pungryu. Dr. Lockley attended in person after a 14-day quarantine due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Dr. Lockley studied fossil animal footprints on the Korean Peninsula’s southern coast for more than 30 years. The award recognized his contribution to raising the value of the region’s natural heritage through scientific research that reveals the diversity of animal ecosystems on the Korean Peninsula.
Jong Deock Lim and Kyung Soo Kim, Dr. Lockley’s good friends and scientific colleagues, nominated him and supported his joint studies over the years. He said he is highly appreciative of their support and “simply would not have received the award without their recommendation.”
Dr. Lockley serves on Dinosaur Ridge’s Advisory Board, which offers periodic advice and review of the nonprofit organization’s programmatic work. The Dinosaur Ridge Advisory Board is a group of subject field experts that relate to our missions of fossil protection and public education. They are leaders in their fields and have demonstrated their commitment to our organization and/or mission.
Friends of Dinosaur Ridge was founded in 1989 by a group of scientists and concerned citizens led by Dr. Lockley as a co-founder and global advocate of track preservation.
Our sincere congratulations to Dr. Lockley for this wonderful recognition!
