Lunch and Learn: Hidden in Plain Sight: The Overlooked Value of Western Pennsylvania’s Paleontological Resources

Join Zach Lyons-Weiler, PhD student in Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Michigan; University of Pittsburgh alumnus for a talk on Pennsylvania's paleontological resources.

When people think of western Pennsylvania, they may think of steel, Andy Warhol, hills, but not fossils. Historically, efforts to collect scientifically important fossils have been hampered by many factors, including land-use access. Recent fieldwork and reappraisal of museum collections have revealed a treasure trove of 300-million-year-old fossils from the region that promise to help us better understand how fossil vertebrates, particularly fishes, responded to prehistoric shifts in climate. These fossils are also helping us understand the origins of the most diverse group of vertebrates on the planet— ray-finned fishes. New discoveries have been bolstered both by technological advances, such as micro-computed tomography, and partnerships with conservation organizations such as the Allegheny Land Trust, who have allowed us unparalleled access to paleontological resources on protected lands. More broadly, these discoveries show that important advances in science can be spurred on by discoveries found close to home, sometimes even within your own backyard!