AN INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION FOR DEVELOPING PALEONTOLOGY-FOCUSED EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND FOSTERING STUDENT RESEARCH IN MONGOLIA

Resources and training are limiting factors for small and growing institutions when developing educational programs, especially for institutions in developing nations. Often these small institutions are also the only resources available for underserved communities when it comes to paleontology-focused education. One solution often used by these small institutions to offset these limitations are through museum collaborations to supplement resources and development, especially for small and developing institutions. The Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology and the Institute for the Study of Mongolian Dinosaurs (ISMD) have recently begun such a collaborative project to provide educational training and resources to educators in Mongolia while also providing high school students in both Mongolia and the U.S. unique opportunities to engage in first-hand collaborative paleontological research. Both institutions are paleontological research institutions dedicated to providing first hand educational experiences in paleontology for students, particularly for high school students. The ISMD was founded in 2007 as a means to provide educational resources to the Mongolian people through education and research programs. The Alf Museum has had an established program for high school students for over 50 years, with a rigorous student research program having been in place for the last decade. By combining efforts and expertise, both the Alf Museum and ISMD look to expand educational resources and development opportunities for students through a series of exchanges and projects. Exchanges include museum personnel traveling to the each other’s institutions for training and student exchanges to provide first-hand learning experiences in paleontological research. Projects include the development of educator workshops in Mongolia and the implementation of augmented reality technology in translation and accessibility for Mongolian audiences. Through this international collaboration, the Alf Museum and ISMD look to foster professional and cultural exchange between personnel and students, and also foster diversity within the international paleontological community.