Paleontology: How the study of fossils became a modern science

Humans have been finding fossils throughout our history, and these bizarre finds inspired many myths and legends. But from the 1600s to the 1800s, the study of fossils underwent a profound transformation, establishing the modern science of paleontology. In this talk, Dr. Luna will discuss some of the major breakthroughs that not only underpinned the development of paleontology, but also completely transformed our understanding of the world.

Bio:

Dr. Luna grew up in South Florida, majored in biology and religious studies at Duke University, and completed his PhD in vertebrate paleontology at UC Santa Barbara. Dr. Luna joined the Department of Geosciences at Boise State in 2019, where he teaches several courses related to geology, evolution, and paleontology. In 2022, Dr. Luna was recognized as the Science Teacher of the Year by Idaho's General Education Committee.

The lecture is geared towards adults, but motivated students may learn from it.

Everyone must pre-register.

P lease contact b3BlcmF0aW9ucyB8IGlkYWhvbXVzZXVtICEgb3Jn if you have questions.