OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CULTURE AS A FOSSIL PREPARATOR AT BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK

Badlands National Park debuted a dedicated space in 2012 for a fossil preparation lab in which visitors could interact directly with park paleontologists, interpretive rangers, and natural resources. This is unlike other fossil preparation labs where preparators and visitors are unable to interact one-on-one due to a closed lab setting. Prior to 2020, hundreds of visitors were able to interact with the preparators and engage them with questions and observations daily. These exchanges provided opportunities for a better understanding of fossil preparation, conservation, and associated science. This unique interaction with visitors also fostered a sense of personal stewardship towards the environment, a changing world, and natural resources.

The Summer 2020 season was drastically different from previous seasons due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. In 2019, the fossil preparation lab hosted nearly 72,000 visitors in four months. However, in 2020, lab closure was required for maintaining safety protocols, and the number of visitors was reduced to zero.

The pandemic response provided unique challenges and opportunities for Geoscientist-in-the-Park Interns. Productivity of fossil preparation and curation of new and backlogged specimens have taken precedence over visitor outreach. The shift in objectives has added interdisciplinary experiences such as geologic and paleontologic field work, detailed digital documentation (photographs, time-lapse video, and filming stock footage) of various aspects of field work and fossil preparation/curation. Insights gained throughout our internship at Badlands National Park have highlighted the necessity of inter-divisional collaborations with the Resource Management and Resource Education divisions. To maintain the visitors’ interest, sense of personal stewardship, and to provide them with accessible information and interaction, we must continue to develop innovative ideas for pandemics such as COVID-19.