Dr Fion Ma is a vertebrate palaeontologist from Hong Kong. She specialises in using digital modelling to study the anatomy, ecology, and evolution of vertebrates, including dinosaurs and pterosaurs. Her fieldwork has taken her to regions such as the Gobi Desert, the Tianshan Mountains, and the Gangdise Mountains, complemented by extensive collection-based research in international museums. She has published over a dozen peer-reviewed papers, with her scientific discoveries and commentary featured by the BBC, National Geographic, and The New York Times. Dr Ma has contributed to the naming of several new extinct species, including Kunpengopterus antipollicatus (‘Monkeydactyl’), a flying reptile notable as the oldest known animal with opposable thumbs, a find selected by Science News as one of the “6 surprising records science set in 2021”. She is also widely known for her research on “Baby Yingliang,” one of the most complete dinosaur embryos ever discovered, which Smithsonian Magazine selected as a top ten dinosaur discovery of 2022.

Beyond academic research, Dr Ma has long been dedicated to science education and communication. During her research training and professional tenure in the United Kingdom and the United States, she participated in training on science communication, Earth science pedagogy, fossil preparation and conservation, and exhibition curation, translating her research expertise into public engagement. She is frequently invited to lecture at universities, primary and secondary schools, and public organisations. Since returning to Hong Kong, she has balanced her active research with developing innovative educational programmes for local students and contributing to museum development and exhibition planning. In 2026, she founded the Hong Kong Palaeontology Research Centre to transform frontier palaeontological research into accessible, immersive, and inspiring natural history education and experiences for the community.