Paleontology students present original research at this year’s Celebration of Scholars
The success of the Paleontology Program at Carthage was in full view during the the Celebration of Scholars poster exhibition on May 7.
Nathan Cochran ’23, a biology major, presented original museum-based research on the growth of the extinct sail-backed predator Dimetrodon, based on a first-hand study of fossils at the Field Museum.
Chloe Harper ’23, a biology and classics double major, presented original collections-based research on 6,000-year-old human skulls from the Vertebra Cave archaeological site in Ukraine, based on a first-hand study of skulls at the University of Wisconsin-OshKosh.
In both projects, the growth series of the species were recovered using a novel quantitative approach called cladistic analysis. Their results are the outcome of a semester-long intensive Independent Study course, and the Celebration of Scholars was the first public venue where the students presented their work.
Nathan and Harper will follow up their posters with a public platform presentation from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday May 11, in the Niemann Media Theater.
Sponsoring Department, Office, or Organization:
Carthage Institute of Paleontology
For more information, contact:
Prof. Thomas Carr: tcarr@cathage.edu