Pascal Godefroit

 

Pascal Godefroit is a leading palaeontologist at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, renowned for his work on Mesozoic vertebrates, especially dinosaurs. He leads international fieldwork, studies iconic fossil collections such as the Bernissart Iguanodons and the feathered dinosaurs from Liaoning (China), and pioneers digital heritage projects that bridge cutting-edge research and public engagement.

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Function

Pascal works as a vertebrate palaeontologist at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS). He is renowned for his work on the Bernissart Iguanodons, the feathered dinosaurs of Siberia and China, and the hadrosaurid dinosaurs of Asia. His current researches focus on the evolution of early-diverging ornithopods and on the evolution of feather-like structures in dinosaurs. He is the author or co-author of more than 300 scientific publications. He has supervised numerous PhD and master’s theses and contributed to museum exhibitions in Belgium and abroad.

Research team: Paleobiosphere Evolution Research Unit
Research theme: Evolution and the Web of Life  &  Ecosystems over time

 

Area of Expertise

Pascal Godefroit is a specialist in Mesozoic vertebrates, with a focus on dinosaurs and marine reptiles. His research spans the evolution, biodiversity, and palaeoecology of paravian theropods, hadrosaurids, and ornithopods across Europe and Asia. He leads major projects on the Bernissart Iguanodons, integrating taphonomy, conservation, and digital innovation. His fieldwork includes extensive excavations in Russia, China, Mongolia, and France. His work bridges fundamental research, heritage management, and science communication at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences.

 

External activities

Pascal is a member of the Royal Academy of Belgium (Sciences Class).

 

Dissemination activities

Les Iguanodons de Bernissart | L'interview de Pascal Godefroit

Quand les poules avaient des dents : comment des dinosaures sont devenus des oiseaux

La ruée vers l'os : la découverte des Iguanodons de Bernissart, par Pascal Godefroit

Les Iguanodons de Bernissart: de la découverte a la valorisation

 

 

Professional Experience

Pascal has built a distinguished career at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, where he currently serves as a senior scientist. He previously held the role of Operational Director for the “Earth and History of Life” OD (2013–2025), and has been active in palaeontological research since 1990. His expertise spans field excavations across Europe and Asia, museum curation, and international collaborations. He has also served as a guest professor in China and contributed to numerous funded international research projects. His leadership extends to scientific councils, museum exhibitions, and the supervision of doctoral and master’s theses.

 

Publication highlights

Godefroit P., 2024. Les Iguanodons de Bernissart : des Fossiles et des Hommes. Académie royale de Belgique, collection Grand Format, Bruxelles, 329 pp. ISBN : 978-2-8031-0921-0.

Cau A., Beyrand V., Voeten D., Fernandez V., Tafforeau P., Stein K., Barsbold R., Tsogtbaatar K., Currie P. & Godefroit P., 2017. Synchrotron scanning reveals amphibious ecomorphology in a new clade of bird-like dinosaurs. Nature, 552:395-399.

Godefroit P., Sinitsa S., Dhouailly D., Bolotsky Y., Sizov A., Mc Namara M., Benton M. & Spagna P., 2014. A Jurassic ornithischian dinosaur from Siberia with both feathers and scales. Science, 345(451):451-455.

Godefroit P., Cau A., Hu D., Escuillié F., Wu W. & Dyke G., 2013. A Jurassic avialan dinosaur from China resolves the early phylogenetic history of birds. Nature, 498(7454):359-362.

Godefroit P., Demuynck H., Dyke G., Hu D., Escuillié F. & Claeys P., 2013. Reduced plumage and flight ability of a new Jurassic paravian theropod from China. Nature Communications, 4(1394):1-6.