Basic Information
Born and Raised in Barcelona California, Alan Grant's interest in Dinosaurs was peaked by his Father-a High School Science teacher. Every year the Locale High School, under the supervision of Doctor William Grant; took a trip to New York City to visit the New York Museum of Natural History. When Alan was two, his father brought him back a toy triceratops, and a fossilized mollusk. Alan took to sleeping with the triceratops and showing his Fossil to the locale neighborhood children. An only child, Alan's mother and father encouraged his interest in fossils and dinosaurs-pleased when it developed into a full-blown almost obsession. Despite a reputation for being a bit of a bookworm, Alan led a very typical American Childhood. He was active in boyscouts and he played for his high school football team; Friends complained that-despite Alan's friendly nature, whenever he'd come across an interesting rock or plant formation-he'd discourse for hours about it. He once dragged his ex-girlfriend to an exhibit on igneous rocks, resulting in him getting dumped two days later.
His dilligence and interest in science paid off however, when Alan was awarded a full-ride scholarship to Montana State University where he studied Palentology. He developed an interest in the nesting habits of dinosaurs, writing several papers on the topic before working at Egg Hill in Montana. It was there that he met his current girlfriend Ellie Sattler, working on her post graduate work.
The two spent a good number of years teaching out of Montana University, funding a scientific dig through the University and a number of private donors. (Rich and well-to-do individuals) Specifically the Hammond Foundation. In 1984, Grant published his first book-fully illustrated. (He does all his own illustrations)
One of these private donors was "InGen Incorporated" under the direction of CEO John Hammond who, working through his Lawyer Donald Gennaro-has been funding the Montana dig for three years.
Dr. Grant's profession, and his relationship with the InGen corporation changed when John Hammond appeared at the digsite and requested that if Ellie Sattler and Alan Grant endorse a "themepark" that John Hammond has built on an island off the Coast of Costa Rica. Ellie and Alan agree to attend.
On this island, dinosaurs have been recreated thanks to a cloning technique, developed by Henry Wu and the Scientists of InGen. Alan Grant is initially impressed, but soon notes the unstable nature of this "Jurassic Park" and concurs indirectly with Dr. Ian Malcom's statements about the park's safety. Part of the initial tourgroup, he and Ellie along with the rest of the tourgroup journey out into the bark to see the Dinosaurs up close.
When a tropical storm hits the island, a freak combination of the weather and a computer hacker working for BioSyn-(InGen's corporate rival) leave Dr. Grant and his companions stranded at the island's center, facing off against a vicious T-Rex.
-Alan Grant is a highly respected Palentologist. His specialty is the "Velociraptor" Which was in fact butchered for the film. The size of the raptors is, according to what I've read-more akin to the "UtahRaptor" So-that's what we'll call them. He is considered a world expert on baby maiasaurs.
-He has zero self-defense skills, however against large beasties and dinosaurs in particular-he has the advantage of the fact that most of his theories-when applied practically-were correct.
-He's a normal human being with above average intellect in reguards to science, and dinosaurs in particular. (Especially Dinosaurs) He's rather hopeless when it comes to machinery and computers, confessing that computers ar alien devices.
-He has good survival skills, presumably learned while a boyscout and from months of "babysitting brats out in the midst of the desert."
-Grant is a survivor. (Not not in the invasion sense but-) Once in the badlands a cliff collapsed-throwing his truck into a ravine. He walked back to camp in 100 degree heat with a broken leg.
-Grant is never without two things. His red handkerchief and his hat. The hat was a Fifty-dollar gift from his mentor just before he got his doctorate. The scarf was a gift from his wife Marissa.
-Marissa Grant passed away just after Grant completed his doctoral work-suffering from Breast cancer. They had no children (much to grant's disappointment) It's something that reminds him (of her)
-He is an excellent artist, illustrating all of his own books.