The vertebrate paleontology group held yet another successful Paleo Unwrapping Party last week. The event, which attracted 164 visitors, began with a lecture by professors Michelle Stocker and Sterling Nesbitt on the fossils they've collected from their 2023 and 2024 field seasons, and it concluded with visitors getting to unwrap fossils in Derring Hall and participate in fun activities inside the Museum. Thanks to museum manager Mariah Green and the many, many others who volunteered: Henry Ayers, Ally Bowman, Sharon Collins, Annmarie Fadorsen, Erika Goldsmith, Lingjie Gu, Laura Hoffman, Geno Iannaccone, Denycé Jasicki, Noah Keller, Sofia Kryder, Timothy Leibee., Mark Lemon, Zach Lester, Michael Martin-Baker, Maggie McGetrick, Mark Nohomovich, Brynden Perkins, Christopher Polcha, Isaac Pugh, Morgan Shikle, Jack Stack, Sarah Stamps, Maranda Stricklin, Prescott Vayda, and Vicki Yarborough.

On Friday Leonard Ohenhen successfully defended his PhD dissertation, "Earth observation data-driven assessment of local to regional, contemporary, and emerging coastal coastal environmental security challenges."

On the first Friday of every fall semester, the Department of Geosciences holds the "Faculty Showcase" -- a rapid-fire event in which every faculty member gets one minute and one slide to introduce themselves. It's a great way for our new graduate and undergraduate students to get to know our faculty. This year's event was well attended, and well presented!