Bidding a Fond Farewell To Fave BJ Expat Paleontologist Dr Tom
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Our expat community thrives on connection, and here at jingkids, we’re all about our readers, and what they need and want in order to maximize their time here in Beijing. One thing you can be sure of is that the world of the expat is highly transitory as we come and go, and sometimes a special expat leaves their mark on the city as much as the city leaves its mark on them. We meet one such person in this article today.
Dr Tom Stidham
I’m Dr. Thomas Stidham, and I am a professor of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. However, most JingKids readers and families probably know me as “Dr. Tom.”
When I haven’t been making amazing new scientific discoveries about the fossil record and evolution of birds and dinosaurs, I have organized and led many science and nature educational outreach programs and activities over the years about birds, insects, dinosaurs, human evolution, and climate change at Beijing schools, scientific/nature sites, and museums. In particular, my programs like “Peking Man and the first Beijingers” at the UNESCO Zhoukoudian Peking Man site and museum and “Night with the Dinosaurs” overnight at the Paleozoology Museum of China attracted the most attention from both kids and adults. After more than a decade of exploring the culture, history, and biodiversity of Beijing and China with my wife Ying Wang, we are preparing to embark on a new journey in America.
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Q
What brought your family here to Beijing in the first place?
A
The short answer to that question is like those of so many others. I came to Beijing for a job back in 2012. I was looking for a change, being dissatisfied with both my job as a professor and my life at the time. In 2011, I ran into a friend (who was the institute director at the time and I’ve now known for ~27 years) at a scientific meeting, and he told me to apply for a visiting position with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It definitely was the change that I needed, and that initial one-year temporary visit grew into 11 years and a far greater and deeper engagement with China than I ever had imagined.
Q
Do you remember your first impression of Beijing? How has that changed now?
A
Beijing is full of so many amazing places and things to see and do. It was a bit overwhelming in some ways. One hurdle was learning to navigate how to get things done, like dealing with unresponsive apartment managers. I had a very rough first six months adjusting, but I persevered and kept exploring temples, trails, and restaurants.
Now, it really feels like Beijing is my home. This special place is where I have lived the longest as an adult with 11 years here and 10 years in the same apartment (with a great landlord). With cleaner air, more transport options (e.g., DiDi and more subway lines), and endless delivery choices, it is a city of convenience. I will miss many aspects of Beijing.
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Images: Courtesy of Tom Stidham
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