Dr. Phil Stokes explores why some species are more prone to extinction than others. Cockroaches are feared, hated, sprayed, and stomped. But, we can’t seem to get rid of them. Cockroaches have survived multiple global disasters and even outlasted the dinosaurs, but can all of their fancy adaptations save them from the current extinction crisis?
Philip J. Stokes is Executive Director of Penn Dixie Fossil Park & Nature Reserve in Hamburg, NY. Working for Big Fossil has its perks: long walks through abandoned quarries at sunset, examining existential questions about life and death, and the thrill of hunting for trilobites and other extinct creatures. He has degrees in Geosciences and Teaching, and the student loans to prove it. In his spare time he plays guitar and ukulele, travels, and brings a telescope to music festivals for late night stargazing. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
Killing the Cockroach: Reflections on Extinction | Dr. Phil Stokes | TEDxBuffalo