ANT 275 - The Snowmastodon Project; Paleontology/Archaeology internship with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Six CMC participated in an immersive, week-long, field-based internship with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (DMNS) at the Zeigler Reservoir near Snowmass Village, CO.
Through daily interactions with DMNS paleontologists Kirk Johnson, Ph.D. and Ian Miller, Ph.D., as well as other scientists, students learned about the historic significance of this “Ice Age Discovery,” including the importance of the find within the scientific (paleontological) record, the implications of the find to contemporary climate science, and the (albeit unlikely) possibility of prehistoric human presence at the site.
This site is the highest elevation site containing mammoth and mastodon in the world. The students made discoveries right alongside world class scientists, who provided interpretations of evidence uncovered on a daily basis, as well as hypotheses to test by further investigation; in short, CMC students and world-class scientists learned together as they explored the magnitude and richness of this find.
Due to the intensive nature of this field experience the students were asked to record their observations daily using a Flip Cam rather than producing a traditional research paper.
James Callahan's Video Blog, Day 1:
Ronnie Hendricks' Video Blog, Last Day:
Each student recorded approximately 5 minutes per day of video describing their learning opportunities, events, lectures, and reflections of their experience.
The video blog included scientific as well as personal observations.
Each day began with a morning meeting at 7, followed by 10 hours at the excavation site, and concluded with an evening meeting after dinner at 8:30 pm.
Conversations between the students and the instructor continue over the course of the summer and early fall as the full impact of their experience develops.
For more information visit:
http://www.livescience.com/14958-mastodon-mammoth-excavation-snowmass-teachers.html
By: Sandy Jackson
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