259-5 Digging the West: A Journey Through Time in the National Parks

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

Poster Booth No.: 26

Presenting Author:

Ronaldo Monroy

Authors:

Monroy, Ronaldo¹, Dineen, Ashley A.², White, Lisa D.³, Visaggi, Christy C.⁴, Tweet, Justin⁵, Santucci, Vincent L.⁶

(1) University of California Museum of Paleontology, Berkeley, California, USA, (2) University of California Museum of Paleontology, Berkeley, CA, USA, (3) University of California Museum of Paleontology, Berkeley, CA, USA, (4) Georgia State University, Geosciences, Atlanta, GA, USA, (5) National Park Service, Geologic Resource Division, Washington, DC, USA, (6) National Park Service, Geologic Resource Division, Washington, DC, USA,

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 Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-10128

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