NORMAN —
Gray McCutchen and LaDaryn Lockett, both of Edmond, returned recently from Paleo Expedition, a two-week program that included a week of digging for prehistoric mammals in northeastern Nebraska.
“Paleo Expedition 2012” was part of the Whitten-Newman Foundation’s ExplorOlogy Program, an education project created by the Sam Noble Museum at the University of Oklahoma and funded by the Whitten-Newman Foundation.
The Edmond students were among 12 participants selected statewide for a 15-day residential adventure with scientists from Sam Noble Museum.
Lockett, who will be a sophomore at Edmond Memorial High School, said, “Before (Paleo Expedition) I thought I had science figured out.”
Once he went to a dig site and learned about the process of paleontology, he said he now understood why so many different sciences are used for a basic understanding of fossils and excavation.
The first week of the program included learning paleontology basics at the museum and travel to Oklahoma geological and paleontological field sites. The Paleo Expedition team visited Black Mesa, Oklahoma’s highest elevation point, to assist scientists from the Sam Noble Museum and Oklahoma State University with the excavation site, which is believed to be a new fossil bed. After six hours of digging, the students discovered fossils belonging to a long-necked sauropod, believed to be from the late Jurassic era, 150 million years ago.
The students camped at Black Mesa State Park and enjoyed hiking to the top of the mesa and viewing the unique local wildlife.
After the first week, McCutchen and Lockett, along with the other students, journeyed to Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park in Nebraska. During their stay, the students worked with Mike Voorhies, vertebrate paleontologist and curator emeritus at the University of Nebraska State Museum. Each student had an opportunity to help excavate ancient rhino fossils inside the park’s covered, public dig site known as the “Rhino Barn.”
In addition, the students discovered and excavated a number of fossils, ranging in age from 8 million to 9 million years old. These included a rhinoceros jaw, scapula, hoof and ribs, a tortoise shell, a carnivore’s tooth, and the fossils of a bird.
The most important thing McCutchen, a sophomore at Edmond Santa Fe, said he learned from Paleo Expedition was the importance of communication in a group.
“My experience in Paleo Expedition has made me even more interested in science,” McCutchen said. “It gave me a look at what real scientists do.”
The Whitten-Newman Foundation ExplorOlogy Program also includes “Oklahoma Science Adventure,” a week-long residential program for middle school students; “Science Escape,” a spring break program for teachers and students to enjoy together; and a summer Science Institute just for teachers.
Additional information about the Whitten-Newman Foundation ExplorOlogy Program can be found online at explorology.snomnh.ou.
edu. The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History is on the University of Oklahoma Norman campus at Timberdell Road and Chautauqua Avenue.
Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors 65 and older, and $3 for youth ages 6 to 17. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free. Discounts are available for military personnel and their immediate families.
For accommodations on the basis of disability, call 325-4712.
Local News
Related Photos
-
PHOTO PROVIDED LaDaryn Lockett, left, and Gray McCutchen, both of Edmond, recently returned from Paleo Expedition, a two-week program that included a week of digging for prehistoric mammals in northeastern Nebraska, through the Sam Noble Museum at the University of Oklahoma.
Discussion
Edmond students return from paleontology field program
- Local News
-
-
UPDATE: Tornado touches portions of Edmond
Roger Williams and his wife Shellie, residents in Edmond’s Thornbrooke neighborhood since 2004, were watching the weather reports Sunday as a large storm approached the city.
When they heard reports that a tornado was spotted near Broadway and 15th Street, then Broadway and 33rd Street, the couple and their son Ethan, 11, took cover in a reinforced interior closet. After they closed the door it got eerily quiet, like being in the eye of a hurricane, Roger said. As the tornado passed by, they could hear a few bangs outside.
“I was kind of scared,” Ethan said. -
SLIDESHOW: Tornado strikes I-35 area of Edmond
A violent tornado ripped trees out of the ground as it dropped into southern Edmond late Sunday afternoon along areas east and west of Interstate 35 from 15th Street to 33rd Street, according to various reports. Damage in Edmond is confirmed by the city and included blown out windows at the brand new Mercy I-35 facility that was scheduled to open later this year. Hail also peppered northwest Edmond during the violent storm event.
-
The Big One
It’s a bleak scenario. A massive earthquake along the New Madrid fault kills or injures 60,000 people in Tennessee. A quarter of a million people are homeless.
-
City plans to hire downtown consultant
Conceptual ideas about how the City of Edmond may plan for downtown development were shared this week by David Forrest with members of the business community.
The Central Edmond Urban Development Board has revisited plans made in a 1998 Downtown Master Plan through public meetings and presentations to protect the future development of Broadway. Recommendations by the group will be taken into account by future city councils. -
Feds recommend changing legal alcohol content levels
During the past 15 years alcohol contributed to a third of highway deaths prompting the government this week to recommend reducing state Blood Alcohol Content limits from .08 to .05 or lower.
-
St. Mary’s Episcopal School names new Head of School
Pamela Dockter will become the new Head of School at St. Mary’s Episcopal School effective July 1.
-
Local girl receives crown
Audrianna Page Fredericks recently was crowned Miss Junior Teen Oklahoma United States 2013.
-
‘Locker Hooking’ workshop offers instruction in durable, useful crafting technique
Residents who would like to learn how to use the “locker hooking” technique to make one-of-a-kind items for use in the home or for decoration are invited to attend the “Locker Hooking” Workshop Tuesday from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Oklahoma County OSU Cooperative Extension Service.
-
‘Healthy Cooking With Spices and Herbs’ focus of OSU Extension workshop
As Americans try harder to improve their diets by decreasing fat and sugar, the challenge to make dishes tasty as well as healthy becomes that much more important.
-
5-18 Calendar
The Edmond Senior Center, 2733 Marilyn Williams Drive, is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. F or information about Edmond senior programs, stop by and pick up a monthly calendar, check out the Web site at edmondseniorcenter.com or call 216-7600.
Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. and reservations are needed a day in advance by 11 a.m. For lunch reservations, call at 330-6293 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. - More Local News Headlines
-
Raw: Tornadoes Spotted in Kansas
Twiggy, the Water Skiing Squirrel
Sailor Surprises His Mom At Her CU Denver Graduation Ceremony
Official: ‘Amazing’ No One Was Killed In CT Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Coffee Stop Leads To Arrest Of YouTube Sensation Wanted For Murder
Bearded Dragon Reunited With Owner
Marine Reunited with Warzone Companion
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Beyonce Is Pregnant!
SF baseball player overpaid $500,000 RETURNS money -- and team says KEEP IT
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
Dad returns from Afghanistan, surprises family during Rays' first pitch
See Jennifer Lopez's New $10m Hamptons Mansion
Woman tricked into taking abortion pill
Emma Watson Goes Pantless
IRS scandal: Republicans seek to tie Obama to agency's woes
Play of the Day: Flipping to Safety
Pregnant Kim Kardashian Squeezes Her Swollen Feet Into Stilettos
Top Videos of the Week: Angry Taco Bell Guy, Glacier Moves on House, Dog Hates Baths
