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Head
Department of Geology
and Paleontology, Hungarian Natural
History Museum |
Scientific
Advisor
Research Group for Paleontology, |
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Mailing
address: PO Box 137, Budapest, H-1431 Hungary
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Quick link to
selected recent papers |
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Pálfy
2008. The quest for refined calibration of the Jurassic time-scale. Proceedings
of the Geologists' Association (abstract) |
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Longridge
et al. 2008. Three new species of the Hettangian (Early Jurassic)
ammonite Sunrisites from British Columbia, Canada. Journal
of Paleontology (abstract) |
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Pálfy
et al. 2007. U-Pb and 40Ar/39Ar dating of the
Miocene fossil track site at Ipolytarnóc (Hungary) and its implications. Earth
and Planetary Science Letters (abstract) |
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Pálfy
2007. Applications of quantitative biostratigraphy in chronostratigraphy and
time scale construction. Stratigraphy (abstract) |
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Yin et
al. 2007. Ammonoids and the
Triassic-Jurassic boundary in the Himalayas of southern Tibet. Palaeontology (abstract) |
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Tomas
& Pálfy 2007. Revision of Early Jurassic ammonoid types from the Perşani
Mts. (East Carpathians, Romania). Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und
Paläontologie (abstract) |
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Pálfy
et al. 2007. Triassic/Jurassic
boundary events inferred from integrated stratigraphy of the Csővár section,
Hungary. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology (abstract) |
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Hesselbo
et al. 2007. Triassic–Jurassic
boundary events: problems, progress, possibilities. Palaeogeography,
Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology (abstract) |
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Haas et al. 2007. Environmental changes in
the Permian-Triassic boundary interval recorded on a western Tethyan ramp in
the Bükk Mts., Hungary. Global and Planetary Change (abstract) |
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Barbacka, Pálfy & Smith 2006. Hettangian
(Early Jurassic) plant fossils from Puale Bay (Peninsular Terrane, Alaska). Review
of Palaeobotany and Palynology (abstract) |
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Pálfy
et al. 2003. Mid-Triassic integrated U–Pb geochronology and ammonoid
biochronology from the Balaton Highland (Hungary). Journal of the
Geological Society, London (abstract) |
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Pálfy
et al. 2001. Carbon isotope anomaly and other geochemical changes at the
Triassic/Jurassic boundary from a marine section in Hungary. Geology (abstract) |
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Pálfy
and Smith 2000. Synchrony between Early Jurassic extinction, oceanic
anoxic event, and the Karoo–Ferrar flood basalt volcanism. Geology (abstract) |
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Pálfy
et al. 2000. A U–Pb and 40Ar/39Ar time scale
for the Jurassic. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences (abstract) |
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Pálfy
et al. 2000. Timing the end-Triassic mass extinction: First on land, then in
the sea? Geology (abstract) |
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Pálfy
et al. 1999. Integrated ammonite biochronology and U-Pb geochronology from a
Lower Jurassic section in Alaska. GSA Bulletin (abstract) |
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Pálfy
et al. 1997. A U-Pb age from the Toarcian (Lower Jurassic) and its use for
time scale calibration through error analysis of biochronologic dating. Earth
and Planetary Science Letters (abstract) |
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Curriculum Vitae
Born in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, April 13, 1962
Education, academic degrees
D.Sc., Hungarian
Academy of Sciences, 2004
Ph.D., University of British Columbia, 1997
M.Sc., University of British Columbia, 1991
B.Sc. (=Diploma in Geology), Eötvös University, Budapest: 1986
Employment
Head of Department, Department of Geology and Paleontology,
Hungarian Natural History Museum: 2008-
Senior Research Scientist, Research Group for Paleontology, Hungarian Academy
of Sciences– Hungarian Natural History Museum: 2003–
Research Scientist and Curator, Department of Geology
and Paleontology, Hungarian Natural History Museum: 1986-2002
Sessional Lecturer, University of British Columbia: 1995
Teaching Assistant, University of British Columbia: 1989-1991, 1993-1997
Research Assistant, University of British Columbia: 1989-1991, 1993, 1996/97
Awards/Scholarships
ICS Medal (International Commission on Stratigraphy,
“for Outstanding Contribution to Stratigraphy”), 2008
Bolyai Plaque, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 2005
Bolyai Research Fellowship, Hungarian Academy of
Sciences, 2001–2004
Elemér Szádeczky-Kardoss Prize, Hungarian Academy of
Sciences, 2001, 2000, 1998
Humboldt Research Fellow, Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, 2000/01
Junior Fellow, Collegium Budapest (Institute for Advanced Study), 1998/99
Scholarship of the Alfried Krupp Foundation, 1998/99
University Graduate Fellowship (University of British Columbia): 1996/97,
1993/94, 1992/93, 1990
Izaak W. Killam Pre-doctoral Fellowship: 1995/96, 1994/95
Outstanding Student Research Award, Geological Society of America: 1995
Best Student Presentation Prize, 5th Canadian Paleontology Conference,
Drumheller: 1995
Scholarship of the "For the Hungarian Science Foundation": 1991
Andor Semsey Youth Prize, Honorable Mention, Hungarian Geological Society: 1988
First-time Speakers' Conference, Hungarian Geological Society, Best
Presentation Prize: 1986
Service in scientific
bodies and conference organization
Chair of Earth Science 1 Panel, Hungarian Scientific Research Fund, 2008-2010
Chair-elect, Jurassic Subcommission of the International Stratigraphic Commission, 2008
Member
of Editorial Board:
Annales Historico-Naturales Musei Nationalis Hungarici (2008- ),
Open Geology Journal (2007- ),
Central European Geology (formerly Acta Geologica Hungarica (2005- ),
Geobiology (2005- )
Voting member, Jurassic Subcommission of the
International Stratigraphic Commission, 2000-
Chairman, Paleontology Section of the Hungarian Geological Society, 2000-
Secretary, Paleontological Scientific Committee, Hungarian Academy of Sciences,
1999-2005
Member of the Organizing Committee, 5th International Symposium on the Jurassic
System, Vancouver, 1998
Secretary of the Organizing Committee, Regional Field Symposium on Mesozoic
Brachiopods, 1992
Research
interests
My research interests span two geologic periods (the Triassic and Jurassic), two subdisciplines (paleontology and geochronology), two phyla (Mollusca - including two of its groups, ammonoids and bivalves, and Brachiopoda), and two continents (North America and Europe). Here is a summary of my major projects:
1. Mass extinctions
Through my research of ammonoid evolution and Jurassic
time scale, I became interested in the phenomenon of mass extinctions. I am
particularly keen to participate in efforts to unravel causes and effects of
the end-Triassic event, one of the Big Five extinctions, and the Early Jurassic
(Pliensbachian-Toarcian) event of smaller magnitude. I co-led a successful
international project (IGCP 458) focused the Triassic-Jurassic boundary events.
My field studies targeted boundary sections both in Hungary (Csővár, Bakony
Mts, Mecsek Mts) and abroad (e.g. Queen Charlotte Islands, Tibet). I have
published a book on mass extinctions (in Hungarian and in German), aimed for a
general readership. See related publications labelled "Ex" in the List of Publications. The project has been funded through the Hungarian
Scientific Research Fund (Grant No. K42802).
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Some of the results are summarized in this volume:
Hesselbo, S.P., McRoberts, C.A. and Pálfy, J. (Eds.), 2007. Triassic–Jurassic boundary
events: Problems, progress, possibilities (Special Issue). Palaeogeography,
Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 244 (1–4). Elsevier, Amsterdam, 423 pp.
2. Jurassic time scale calibration
A large project that included my Ph.D. research is
aimed at an improved calibration of the Jurassic time scale. To augment the
database of stratigraphically well-constrained isotopic ages from the Jurassic,
more than twenty new U-Pb zircon ages have been obtained. The samples were
collected from volcanic units bracketed by fossiliferous sediments. Suitable
volcanosedimentary sequences occur in the uppermost Triassic through Middle
Jurassic of North American Cordillera. Field work was carried out in the Alaska
Peninsula, southern Yukon, northwestern British Columbia, Queen Charlotte
Islands, and Vancouver Island.
The new U-Pb dates integrated with zonal level
ammonoid biochronology provide improved constraints on stage boundaries and
allow, for the first time, direct estimation of some zonal boundary ages. My
relevant pieces are labelled "U-Pb" in the List of Publications. Renewed
efforts will be funded by the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (Grant No.
K72633).
3. Jurassic ammonoid biostratigraphy
My M.Sc. thesis project focused on developing an
ammonoid zonation for the Sinemurian of the Queen Charlotte Islands, site of
one of the most fossiliferous Lower Jurassic successions in North America.
Within the Cordilleran Jurassic Calibration Project I applyied and tested
existing Early and Middle Jurassic regional zonal schemes and documented the
stratigraphic and geographic distribution of ammonite faunas from different
allochthonous terranes such as Wrangellia and Stikinia in British Columbia, the
Peninsular terrane in Alaska, and the Caborca terrane in northwest Mexico. I'm
exploring ways to quantify the accuracy of ammonoid-based intercontinental
correlation, e.g. between North America and the northwest European standard.
Related publications are labelled "J" and "Amm" in the List of Publications. The project was also funded through the Hungarian
Scientific Research Fund (Grant No. F23451).
4. Triassic time scale calibration
In a project in collaboration with Attila Vörös, Randy
Parrish (NIGL, Great Britain), and Roland Mundil (Berkely Geochronology Center,
US) we sampled several volcanic tuff layers from the ammonite-bearing Middle
Triassic sections of Balaton Highland. Through integrated high-resolution
ammonoid biochronology and U-Pb dating, we attempt provide calibration points
for the Triassic time scale. Funding was provided through the Hungarian
Scientific Research Fund (Grant No. T29965) and a bilateral Hungarian-British
exchange program.
5. Triassic brachiopods of Hungary
My B.Sc. thesis and subsequent research led to a
revision of classical Middle Triassic brachiopod faunas of the Balaton
Highland. Besides the systematic paleontology and a biostratigraphic study, the
paleoecologic and paleobiogeographic analyses yielded new insights. Different
Middle Triassic paleoenvironments are characterized by their well-defined
brachiopod assemblages. At a regional scale, brachiopod faunas of various
tectonostratigraphic units of Europe are used to infer their relative paleogeographic
position. Related publications are labelled "Tr" and "Br"
in the List of Publications.
Personal
I'm married and currently live in Budapest, Hungary. My wife, Mária Mayer-Pálfy works as a English language teacher. We have four children, Márton (19), Máté (19), Lilla (16), and Áron (13). In the little time left after work and the family, I enjoy sports: orienteering, distance running, cycling and cross-country skiing. Travel and hiking is where profession and leisure overlap: I have visited more than 20 countries and did geology in more than 15 of them.
Links
Thanks for staying with me so far. Now I offer you an
eclectic selection of links to sites reflecting my background and various
interests.
Learn something about Hungary
See my hometown Budapest
If you have trouble reading Hungarian, this dictionary may be of help
Visit my alma maters:
the Eötvös University of Budapest
and its paleontological department,
the University of British Columbia
and its Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences
Visit the institute where I spent one of the most
enjoyable years of my life:
the Collegium Budapest
And don't miss the pages of the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin, where
I spent another great year
Check out my PhD advisor, Paul L. Smith 's home page
Find out the e-mail addresses of Hungarian geo-folks
Look at the Hungarian Orienteering homepage. (Did you know that I ran my first
orienteering race twenty years ago and was once a member of the national junior
squad?)
More recently I’ve been involved in mountain
biking in this club, and one of my sons won the title in the junior
national championship.
Visit the societies I have been a member of:
Geological Society of Hungary
Geological Association of Canada
Geological Society of America
Visit these government agencies that generously
supported several of my research projects:
Hungarian Scientific Research Fund
Geological Survey of Canada
British
Columbia Geological Survey
Canada/Yukon Geoscience Office
And of course, visit the web pages of the Hungarian
Natural History Museum
and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Last updated: February 15, 2008
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