John A. Long

John Albert Long (born 1957) is an Australian paleontologist who is currently Strategic Professor in Palaeontology at Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia.

[6] Further research on Gogo fishes included a perfect new colecanth Ngamugawi wirngarri, which showed through detailed analysis how coelacanth evolution had been influenced by plate tectonic movements.

[9] Long's paleontological research has involved field work collecting and studying Palaeozoic fishes throughout Australia,[10] Antarctica,[11] South Africa,[12] Iran,[13] Vietnam,[14] Thailand[15] and China.

This later discovery, published in the journal Nature (May 2008) was the first time that reproduction by internal fertilisation was demonstrated in the extinct Class Placodermi, and the oldest evidence for vertebrate viviparity yet discovered.

His books for children include two novels based on cutting-edge research that paint vivid pictures of travelling back in time to experience the varied landscapes of prehistoric Australia (Mystery of Devils Roost, Journey to the Dawn of Time)[30][31] as well as non-fiction works dealing mainly with dinosaurs[32] and prehistory, but also with the environment and climate change[33] and the development of human civilizations.

In 2007 his book Swimming in Stone-The Amazing Gogo Fossils of the Kimberley was shortlisted for the Science writing prize of the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards.

[46] In 2011 Long and colleagues Kate Trinajstic, Gavin Young & Tim Senden were short-listed for the Eureka Prize for Scientific Research.

[49] In 2016 he was part of Prof Ross Large's team TEPO (Trace Elements in Past Oceans) which won the 2016 Eureka Prize for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Scientific Research.