The National Park Service and the American Geological Institute are partnering to host the third annual National Fossil Day on Oct. 17 during Earth Science Week. National Fossil Day is a celebration organized to promote public awareness and stewardship of fossils, as well as to foster a greater appreciation of their scientific and educational value.
At the MSU Museum, visitors can "cruise the fossil freeway' to celebrate the day. "Cruisin' the Fossil Freeway" with artist Ray Troll and paleontologist Kirk Johnson is a new exhibit that brings together the best of the MSU Museum's fossil collection and Troll's fossil-inspired artwork to explore questions about evolution, extinction and early life on earth.
Also on tap: Learn what it's like to be a paleontologist working out in the field with the "Time Card." Junior paleontologists can find a fossil, identify its common name and its scientific name, describe what it looks like and sketch it and detail where it was found. Hands-on fossils will be available from 1 to 3 p.m. There will also be a number of interactive learning games that explore animals, health, science, history and vocabulary.
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