Digging into Dinosaur Dung

Dr. Karen Chin delivered a great talk last night at the Gardens.  She is the Curator of Paleontology and an Associate Professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder.  One of her areas of expertise is coprolites: fossilized feces.  I have to admit that I thought that part of the appeal of the talk was that dinosaur dung is exactly what appeals to our inner grossed-out juveniles. Dr. Chin did not disappoint, delivering puns, double-entendres and low humor that was still all science.  I learned things about dinosaurs, ancient plants, wood, paleontology, coprolites, and, yes, dung, both ancient and modern.

What made the class exceptional was the small crowd.  Whereas an audience ten times the size would have been ten times as reluctant to speak, I think everyone asked questions last night.  And what questions!  Most people assume that science progresses by applying rules (or theories or laws), conducting experiments and analyzing results.  Well, first someone has to wonder about the rules, imagine an experiment, and ask what could result.  And Dr. Chin received our wonderings, imaginings and questions with enthusiasm.  I don’t believe we solved any paleontological conundrums for her, but Dr. Chin graciously allowed as how they were “good questions” that came from new directions. 

For everyone who missed it, stay tuned.  This was just one of many classes supporting the Jurassic Gardens:Extinction and Evolution exhibit that is here now.  Other classes, programs and events include the “Flock of Dodos” film screening on July 29, the story of Darwinian botanists in the RockiesSeptember 3, Dr. Dean Saitta’s look at Darwin’s GalapagosSeptember 10 and Digital Nature: Extinction and Evolution, a juried art show, on September 17.  Watch for more posts or calendar updates.