April's monthly meeting will be held at 7:30pm at 100 Lee Street with guest speaker, Dr. Jonathan Hendricks, who is the Associate Director of Science Communication at the Paleontological Research Institution. He will be presenting on the PRI exhibit, “Year of the Devonian." 

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Title: “Year of the Devonian” at the Paleontological Research Institution

 

Summary: Few places on Earth reveal the ancient life and environments of the Devonian Period (419 to 359 Ma) better than New York State. American paleontology has its roots in the Devonian of New York and modern research in the state continues to teach us more about life on Earth during this period of geologic time. The Paleontological Research Institution (located in Ithaca, New York) is celebrating 2023 as the “Year of the Devonian” with several major new outreach projects and research initiatives. This presentation will highlight these endeavors, which include: 1) a new temporary exhibit at the Museum of the Earth, opening March 13, called “NY Rocks! Ancient Life of the Empire State” (https://www.museumoftheearth.org/nyrocks); 2) publication of a massive revision of the Devonian stratigraphy of New York in the Bulletins of American Paleontology;  3) development of the Devonian Atlas of Ancient Life online fossil identification guide; and 4) curation and digitization of the Carl Brett and Gordon Baird stratigraphic collection at PRI.

 

Bio: Dr. Jonathan Hendricks is Associate Director of Science Communication at the Paleontological Research Institution, where he oversees PRI’s publications program and online outreach initiatives, including Earth@Home and the Digital Atlas of Ancient Life. Prior to coming to PRI, Jon was an Associate Professor of Geology at San Jose State University. He currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer of the Paleontological Society. His research is focused on the systematics and evolution of Neogene mollusks from the western Atlantic.