In-Person Event
Location: Harvard Museum of Natural History – Third Floor Galleries & Classroom B
What treasures are found in the Harvard University paleontology collections? Meet Harvard paleontologists to find out! See their favorite fossils, learn about their research, and ask them your questions. Join us to celebrate National Fossil Day with short talks and table-top presentations for all ages.
Regular museum admission rates apply.
Presented in collaboration with the Stephanie Pierce Lab of Vertebrate Paleontology and the Javier Ortega-Hernández Lab of Invertebrate Paleontology.
Free event parking at the 52 Oxford Street Garage.
Lightning Talks
Recommended for ages 10 and up
Classroom B
1:30–2:00 pm
So You Found a Fossil…What Next?
Scott Johnston, Vertebrate Paleontology Fossil Preparator and Technician
Imagine you are on a hike and find a fossil. What should you do about it, and what will happen to it next? Learn about the life after death of a fossil as it is unearthed and travels from the field to the lab. In this talk, I’ll share the different tools and techniques that fossil preparators like me use to uncover, clean, and preserve fossils for future generations to study.
2:15–2:45 pm
Beyond Bones: The Secrets of Soft-Tissue Fossils
Sarah R. Losso, Ortega-Hernández Lab
Most fossils are made up of hard parts like bones, teeth, and shells. But under special conditions, softer and more delicate structures such as organs and muscles can also be preserved. Join me as I discuss how these special kinds of fossils form and what they can tell us about extinct animal life.
3:00–3:30 pm
Tardigrades Through Time
Marc Mapalo, Ortega-Hernández Lab
Tardigrades, or water bears, are famous for their ability to survive extreme conditions. But can all tardigrades do this? How much do people really know about the different types of tardigrades? In this talk, I will present the amazing diversity of tardigrades – both living and fossilized – and discuss how studying them is crucial for understanding the evolution of this charismatic animal group.
Fossil Story Time
Recommended for ages 3–9
Sea Creatures in Glass
2:00–2:20 pm
