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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration

@elevationscience.bsky.social
239 followers 30 following 453 posts

Hands-on paleontology in Montana. Research. Education. Outreach. Dinosaur digs, field courses, research, and behind-the-scenes science!

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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 15h
Welcome to "Jacket Palooza" with Elevation Science! This is a fun activity that we at Elevation Science have done many times throughout our summers. Sometimes, our field paleontologists and participants have lots of dinosaur fossils to jacket and so little time, so we jacket them at the same time!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Thank you to Keith Guerin for sponsoring a field jacket for the 2026 season! This jacket is what we call a "JJ", made for smaller fossils that need a little extra protection for transport. Inside the jacket is a sauropod (🦕) vertebra, likely a caudal, which is part of the dinosaur's tail.
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
With all the advancements in technology today, is there a point to continue with actual "boots on the ground" fieldwork? We're here to tell you... Yes. Check out this latest story, featuring some of our field staff, to learn why going out into the field in the name of science is irreplaceable.
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Why are public lands so important? Public lands provide important habitats to native flora and fauna, clean water for local communities, and connections to our history and cultures. Get outside as much as you can. Visit your local parks and enjoy what nature has to offer. Love your public lands!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Registration for the 2027 field season is open, and YOU can be part of a grand dinosaur adventure! Dig for Jurassic dinosaurs in Montana & learn everything you need to know about hunting for and preserving fossils. Learn more and sign up: elevationscience.org/fossil-dig-e...
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Many thanks to Alistair Kraft, Paleo Prep Lab volunteer at the Cincinnati Museum Center, for sponsoring a field jacket for the 2026 field season! This jacket holds several elements of dinosaur toes from the Skyewalker site, discovered by Hannah C. These toes were an exciting discovery this summer!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Someone's gotta get down in the dirt with the fossils... Guess that's us. 😎
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Thank you to our good friend Chuck for sponsoring a field jacket this year! This jacket contains sauropod (🦕) fossils from our Skyewalker locality. This site developed so much over the 2026 season, with possibly multiple species showing up in the fossil layer! We miss you, Chuck!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
How do paleontologists extract large blocks of fossils? On today's Fossil Friday, come with us to see how it's done!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
A jaw-some time at Alabama Fossil Fest! 🦈 Over 500 people showed up from near and far to learn more about paleontology — how amazing is that!? Thank you for having us!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Bonus pics from this year's Red Lodge Fun Run! Rick had a great time chatting with folks from all over, especially about dinosaurs and the important work we do at Elevation Science. It's incredible to see so many people interested in science education! Thanks to our friend Don for the pictures!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Thank you to Bonnie for sponsoring a field jacket for the 2026 field season! This jacket is from our SWB quarry, which contains one sauropod (long-neck dinosaur) and theropod (likely Allosaurus). The jacket is protecting a humerus (upper arm bone) belonging to the sauropod. How funny! ...Get it?
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
The end of field season brings on some bittersweet feelings. Although we are home once again, we do find ourselves missing the field. For 8 weeks, we work together not only as a team but as a family. If you're missing us, and the dinosaurs, just know that we miss you too!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Today is the 2026 Red Lodge Fun Run! Stop by the Elevation Science booth, see real dinosaur fossils, and learn how you can support science education! www.rlacf.org/programs/thr...
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Sometimes, our quarries need love too. And who better to love them than our friend Hannah!? Huge thank you to Hannah for sponsoring M&M this year, a very fun site with several types of Jurassic dinosaurs!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
A great summer with our 2026 field interns! Listen in as Chal and Matthew tell us some important skills they developed during their time in the field with us. Thank you to the David B. Jones Foundation for making opportunities like these possible!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Looking back on yet another incredible field season! Thank you to everyone who hunted for new fossils, got down in the dirt, stuck their hands in plaster, shoveled to the max, hauled tools and jackets, and appreciated science and nature with us. We couldn't do this without you!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Run for science! 🏃🦖 Support Elevation Science in the 2026 Red Lodge Fun Run and help us bring real paleontology into classrooms through Ancient Worlds, Modern Classrooms. www.rlacf.org/programs/thr...
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Happy National Nonprofit Day! 🤍 We're grateful for every person who helps make Elevation Science's research and educational work possible. Your support helps us explore, discover, teach, and share science with others. Want to support our mission? elevationscience.org/fuel-discovery
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
"In honor of my brave daughter for her 1st solo trip in Belize! Proud of you, Lilly!" Thanks to our very own Executive Director, Jason Schein, for sponsoring a field jacket this year... And in honor of his daughter at that! What could be better than honoring someone than with dinosaurs?
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
We DO have the coolest jobs out there though... 🪏🦕
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Big thank you to the Christiansen family for sponsoring lumber and construction this year! They've joined us in the field for years and have become great friends of ours. We're so grateful for their continued support!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Big thank you to the Christiansen family for sponsoring lumber and construction this year! They've joined us in the field for years and have become great friends of ours. We're so grateful for their continued support!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Every discovery deserves to be shared with everyone. Support Elevation Science in the 2026 Red Lodge Fun Run and help us bring paleontology into classrooms through our Ancient Worlds, Modern Classrooms initiative. Learn more: www.rlacf.org/programs/thr...
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
Join us today as we wish one of our field interns, Chalfant Conley, a very happy birthday! 🐢
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Spend your days preparing dinosaur fossils, supporting research, and helping museum visitors experience paleontology up close. We're hiring an Assistant Fossil Preparator! 🦴 elevationscience.org/fossil-prep-...
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Outreach week! Every season, we have the opportunity to visit libraries, museums, and other public places to bring paleontology to the masses. It's so much fun talking with dinosaur lovers from all over and getting to show off all the amazing things Elevation Science gets to work on.
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Please join us today in wishing our Director of Development, Devon Francis, a very happy birthday! 🎉
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Women in paleontology! Last week, we happened to notice that we had a group of incredible women working in the same area of the quarry. Each of these people, and all those we get to work with, are the picture of grace, good humor, hard work, and intelligence. We're honored to work alongside them!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Thank you to Susan Dayton for sponsoring a jacket for the 2026 field season! This jacket comes from the Elevation Science SWB quarry, which features a Jurassic sauropod (long-neck) and a theropod (hollow-boned, carnivorous) dinosaur. Inside this jacket is a tail vertebra from the sauropod!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Skye and Chal had a blast today with some little dino lovers. We talked dinosaurs, asked great science questions, got to see and touch real dinosaur fossils, and even got to dig for them!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Join us today as we wish Jason Poole a very happy birthday! 🎂
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
After 2 weeks in the field, our Field Paleontology students are on their way home! We're so proud of how much this group accomplished these last 2 weeks and we've greatly enjoyed watching them become close friends. We miss you already, students!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
When you can't beat the heat... Go above it! Elevation Science did just that today with a trip to northern Wyoming! Cool sights, cool rocks, cool animals, and SLIGHTLY cooler temperatures. Great way to spend the day!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Many thanks to Susan McDonald for sponsoring a large field jacket this year! This jacket contains elements from the Mother's Day Quarry, a world-famous site known for an assemblage of juvenile sauropods. We can't wait to get it back to the lab and learn even more about these awesome dinosaurs!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
It was great welcoming geology students from Missouri State University to our field sites this week! They toured the area, visited our excavations, and even tried fossil jacketing. Thanks for joining us; we had a great time!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Plaster, burlap, teamwork... and a little bit of a mess! Today our Field Paleontology students learned how to jacket fossils, creating protective the shells that keep our specimens safe on their journey from the field to the lab.
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
First day in the field with ERTH 491 students! This weekend, we welcomed this year's Field Paleontology students to the expedition. Over the next two weeks, these young scientists will learn how to excavate dinosaurs, grid and map a quarry, preserve and jacket fossils, and more!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Preparator/Field Paleontologist job opening in Utah!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Week 1 of our 2026 Field Season is done! Backfill removed ✔️ Quarries reopened ✔️ New bones discovered ✔️ A great start to the summer. Watch the latest vlog! youtu.be/USswd77MyL0?...
youtu.be
Opening the Dinosaur Quarries | Field Season 2026
YouTube video by Elevation Science Institute
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Please join us in wishing field technician Adam Johnson a very happy birthday today! 🎂
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
"To the best paleo team ever!" We had the pleasure of having our friend Timshel out in the field with us for Week 1 of the expedition. Thank you for being such a great part of the crew and for sponsoring a field jacket this year! ❤️🦕
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
We loved welcoming our 2025–2026 Fossil Preparation Intern, Brandan Miller, for a visit to the field! It was great showing him this season's excavations so far and catching up. Thanks for stopping by, Brandan!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Day 1 in the field! 🦴 Despite the cold, windy weather, our participants uncovered new bone and helped remove the backfill that protects our fossil sites over the winter. A great start to the 2026 field season and we're excited for tomorrow!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Come behind the scenes as we head to Montana, prepare our field sites, and get ready for another summer of discovery. Field season has officially begun!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
Every journey has a destination. Ours just happens to be...Montana. 🦴⛰️
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
Meet one of the 2026 field interns — Chalfant Conley! Chal talks about what he's studying and shares his goals for the future as he begins his internship with Elevation Science. A huge thank you once again to the David B. Jones Foundation for making our field internship program possible!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
Meet one of our 2026 field interns — Matthew Wilbur! Matthew shares a little about what he's studying and where he hopes his career in paleontology will take him. A huge thank you once again to the David B. Jones Foundation for making our field internship program possible!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Field season is off to a great start. We even have a new and unexpected staff member!
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Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration @elevationscience.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
🦴 We're hiring! Elevation Science is seeking a full-time Assistant Fossil Preparator in Cincinnati, Ohio. Interested in helping prepare fossil specimens for research and education? Learn more and apply: elevationscience.org/fossil-prep-jobs
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