Dr David Unwin

Dr David Unwin’s research focus is pterosaurs, an extinct group of flying reptiles also known as pterodactyls. His work has a truly international reach as he works with teams around the world, from such places as Beijing, UK, USA, Spain, France, Canada. 

Dr Unwin, of the School of Museum Studies, left his mark in history as part of a team that made the unique discovery of a pterosaur fossil preserved with its egg, which helped to identify gender in pterosaurs. 

The story was featured in many publications internationally. As a lead item on the BBC it remained on the home page for four days. Dr David Unwin was interviewed by the Today programme, Good Morning Wales, The World Today and BBC Radio Leicester. Among other notable publications that carried the story were the New York Times, Washington Post, New Scientist, National Geographic, and Science in addition to many other national and international media outlets. 

A global expert in his field, Dr Unwin acted as an advisor to an hour-long documentary Flying Reptiles 3D. The film was immensely successful and is the first ever 3D film to be awarded a BAFTA.