THE STORIES THIS VALLEY COULD TELL: THE MIOCENE FAUNAS OF THE COLUMBIA BASIN AS A FOUNDATION FOR PLACE-BASED EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

As long as paleontology has existed, paleontologists and the fossils they study have played the role of scientific ambassadors, engaging people with and educating them about concepts in biology and geology. As science begins to grapple with its long-standing inequalities and as public distrust of scientists has plummeted, this role has become all the more important. While fossils themselves have traditionally been at the center of paleontological education and outreach, these efforts can be augmented by taking a broader focus on the landscapes in which they were found and the stories they tell. Place-based education has proven very successful in engaging both traditionally underrepresented groups and those distrustful of scientists, and paleontology is replete with opportunities for locally-focused outreach programs. A particularly valuable opportunity is presented by the fossils of the Columbia Basin in northeast Oregon, a region rich in Hemphillian-aged (late Miocene) localities yielding an exceptionally rich and complete vertebrate fauna. These fossils tell several ecological and evolutionary stories, including the dispersal of ground sloths across North America in the first wave of migration across Panama, the evolutionary saga of the continent’s first big cats, and the replacement of forests by grasslands, with lasting impacts on everything from burrowing in ground squirrels to rhino behavior. Many of the animals uncovered here, such as salmon, horses, and beavers, have a profound cultural and economic significance to the region’s diverse communities. My outreach efforts have aimed to build on the strong community connection to the Columbia Basin’s natural heritage to engage stakeholders throughout the region. Existing efforts include podcast episodes on local paleontology, 3D digitization of fossils that could reach communities with minimal access to educational resources, and collaboration with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in naming the cat species Machairodus lahayishupup in Old Cayuse. Future efforts will build on this base to engage both underrepresented communities and those with little trust in science and scientists and will hopefully serve as a model for efforts focused on other regions with equally compelling stories to tell.