EDUCATING FLEDGLING PALEONTOLOGISTS IN THE WEST: THE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING

The University of Wyoming Geological Museum has a history dating back to 1887. Over the years, this program has seen numerous changes, but has always followed the basic mission of the university to educate undergraduate students. Utilizing students and the abundant paleontological resources in the region, the staff of this program developed not only a world renowned exhibit and research collection, but also provided its students with invaluable field-orientated experiences. This philosophy led to the applied learning strategy of the UW Geological Museum’s Undergraduate Research Program. Developed in 1995 to educate aspiring, young paleontologists, this program provided motivated Geology and Zoology students with a unique opportunity to learn paleontology by doing actual research projects. Organized like a graduate-level study, students were required to choose a project, do background research, apply for funding, pursue field and/or laboratory research, supervise assistants, collect data, make observations, develop interpretations, synthesize the study in a formal paper, and submit abstracts for presentations at national meetings (e.g., Society of Vertebrate Paleontology and Geological Society of America). The range of projects included studies in the history of paleontology, microvertebrate and invertebrate faunas, dinosaur mass, and vertebrate ichnology. Unique to this program was the successful utilization of world-class paleontological field sites located on public lands. Localities such as the Late Jurassic Seminoe Tracksite in central Wyoming and those in the Middle Jurassic Sundance Vertebrate Ichnofaunal Province of northern Wyoming highlight both resource management and educational use. Students were encouraged to develop displays in the museum and instruct college-level field geology and paleontology classes about their research. The highly successfully program both enticed students to attend the university and provided invaluable experience for students applying to graduate schools. The UW Geological Museum began a legacy in the late 1800s to engage undergraduate students to learn paleontology by utilizing the unique natural resources of Wyoming. This legacy continued into the 21st Century with the museum’s innovative educational methods in the teaching of paleontology.