R Ewan Fordyce Paleontology Fund

The University of Otago’s paleontology collections are an internationally significant treasure/taoka. This remarkable collection of fossil specimens provides an inspirational basis for teaching, research and community outreach.

The establishment of this fund following the passing of Emeritus Professor Ewan Fordyce ( FRSNZ ) in November 2023 provides us an opportunity to celebrate the work and legacy of this internationally renowned paleontologist, who worked in the Department of Geology for over 40 years. This fund will be used to facilitate paleontological research, teaching and outreach that makes use of the University’s amazing paleontology collections. This will help us to preserve the legacy of Ewan – as well as his colleagues and predecessors of the past 150 years – long into the future.

Ewan’s paleontological field and laboratory investigations have led to more than 200 publications, many of which addressed the paleontology, morphology, taxonomy, systematics, and phylogeny of Cetacea (whales, dolphins and porpoises) that are now an integral part of our collections. Much work remains yet to be done on fossil material recovered by Ewan and his many students and colleagues. His prolific output continued through until retirement as he worked on a 2019 Marsden project investigating the evolution of whales and dolphins from 18-20 million years ago.

Thanks to Ewan’s contribution over the last 40 years, Otago has had by far the most thriving and productive teaching and research programme in palaeontology in Aotearoa New Zealand. His legacy as a teacher, researcher, role model, mentor, supervisor, editor and photographer will continue to inspire future generations of students and researchers from all around the world.

Emeritus Professor Daphne Lee

Recognising Professor Fordyce’s enormous contributions to marine vertebrate paleontology, several fossil species have been named fordycei. The most recent, Kumimanu fordycei, a species of the world’s largest penguin, was named for him in 2023. Thousands of fossils that he collected over the decades are now archived in the Department of Geology with many on display in Otago’s Geology Museum.

Ewan's published works are distinguished by very detailed anatomical descriptions and exceptionally clear photographs and other figures. His taxonomic work focused on marine mammals and penguins, but also encompassed sharks, bony fishes, and marine reptiles, as well as drawing on his considerable expertise in microfossil biostratigraphy. Ewan was meticulous in his work – and in how he went about the work, with kindness, graciousness, and a wry sense of humour – that greatly endeared him to students, colleagues, and the public at large.

Professor Fordyce was widely honoured by his peers. He was elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 2014, edited the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand for many years, and was Head of Department of Geology at Otago for five years.

He was also instrumental in promoting Vanished World to UNESCO Geopark status, a long and detailed process that culminated in the formal recognition of the UNESCO Waitaki Whitestone Geopark in June 2023, the first geopark in Australasia.

Donate to the Fordyce Fund

To honour Ewan and his extraordinary legacy to the field of paleontology, proceeds from this fund are used to continue paleontological research, inform teaching, and encourage outreach activities that involve the fossil collections in the Department of Geology at the University of Otago.

Select “R. Ewan Fordyce Palaeontology Fund” from the designation list before proceeding through to the payment portal. Donate to the Fordyce Fund