259 Science and Stewardship of U.S. National Park Service Paleontological Resources (Posters)

The National Park Service continues to advance and implement strategic approaches in the management of paleontological resources. This session showcases contributions to inventorying, monitoring, research, outreach, and other aspects of management, stewardship, and science of park fossils.

Wednesday, 22 October 2025
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
HBGCC, Hall 1

Digging the West: A Journey Through Time in the National Parks

Paper number: 259-4
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – 8:00 AM

Authors

  • Ronaldo Monroy Presenting Author
    University of California Museum of Paleontology, Berkeley, California
  • Ashley Dineen
    University of California Museum of Paleontology, Berkeley, CA
  • Lisa White
    University of California Museum of Paleontology, Berkeley, CA
  • Christy Visaggi
    Georgia State University, Geosciences, Atlanta, GA
  • Justin Tweet
    National Park Service, Geologic Resource Division, Washington, DC
  • Vincent Santucci
    National Park Service, Geologic Resource Division, Washington, DC

Abstract

This project aims to reach the greater Hispanic community by exploring paleontological resources in the national parks of the western United States using both English and Spanish formats. In order to explore the fossils that lived there millions of years ago, the ArcGIS StoryMap under development will guide users on a journey through various parks across geologic time, starting in the Precambrian more than 540 million years ago and ending by looking at modern geological processes. In each park, the journey will show the fossils and the environment that existed there in the past, discussing what life was like in that park and what you would see if you could travel back in time. In addition, the geologic history of the parks will also be highlighted in order to explain what can be seen in them today. Our StoryMap allows for any and all ages to journey through the geologic past. Viewers will be able to scroll through Earth's history and with the assistance of a dynamic map to pinpoint the position of these parks in the context of the western U.S., both in the past and present. Users of our StoryMap can experience the fossils that make our national parks iconic, preserving a record of prehistoric life that cannot be seen anywhere else. The inclusion of a Spanish version of this StoryMap helps to broaden the scope of the project and increase science communication by reaching communities who potentially haven’t been reached before. The overall goal of this project is to increase the reach of science communication by exploring the rocks and fossils visitors are likely to see in our National Parks, hence further educating the public about the evolution of life. This project was made possible through the Paleontology in the Parks Fellowship, a joint National Park Service-Paleontological Society program.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-414202

© Copyright 2025 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.