Paleontology Field Methods & Research (Summer A – 3, 4 or 5 credits)
Join us this summer and get your hands dirty excavating dinosaur and mammal fossils and analyzing data that will contribute to research on the extinction of dinosaurs and the rise of mammals.
This course is a five-week intro to paleontological field methods and research. Students develop skills in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting field data and designing research projects by participating in ongoing paleontological research on the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction led by Dr. Greg Wilson’s lab. Topics include excavation of dinosaur, small vertebrate, and plant fossils, identification and curation of fossils, collection/interpretation of stratigraphic, diversity, and taphonomic data, and report writing.
If you are a high-energy student ready for a summer of hard work and discovery, please contact the instructor Dr. Dave Grossnickle! To print a flyer for viewing or posting elsewhere click here or here.
Course Details:
Lecture/Lab Component: Week 1 (on UW campus, June 18–21) consists of two introductory lectures and 3-4 lab activities that will cover basic principles in field paleontology, geology, and taphonomy as well as the scientific context of the field research. Week 5 (on UW campus, July 12–17) consist of four 2-hr lab sessions to curate collected fossil specimens, analyze data, and present final reports.
Field Component: For Weeks 2, 3, and 4 (June 22–July 11), we operate out of the Hell Creek State Park of NE Montana. Students first learn basic field techniques in paleontology and geology and gain familiarity with the context of ongoing research in the area. Students then engage in group projects that form the basis of their final report. More info here: field information, field equipment, Montana fieldwork, Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge.
Fees: There is a lab fee of $120 and a program fee of $850. These cover expenses relating to the three-week fieldwork component in NE Montana (transportation RT Seattle to Montana, meals, lodging, field equipment). UW summer tuition also applies.
Entry Code: Please contact Dave Grossnickle at dmgrossn@uw.edu for an entry code. Preference will be given to Paleobiology minors. No prerequisites necessary.
