In the News | Beneski Museum of Natural History

2021

Podokesaurus Holyokensis - Selecting Our State Dinosaur

Model of Podokesaurus Holyokensis (1912)

It’s been an exciting year for the state of Massachusetts! For the first time ever, we are in the process of selecting a state dinosaur, the Podokesaurus Holyokensis. Discovered in nearby Hadley by Professor Mignon Talbot of Mount Holyoke College, the Podokesaurus is one of the few dinosaur skeletons to be found in the state. The original specimen burned down in a fire in 1917, but the Beneski Museum is home to one of the few original casts. Visit the links below to learn more about the dinosaur, the legislative process, and how the Museum is involved.

State Dinosaur Initiative

Lauren Kent, CNN

Massachusetts might soon have an official state dinosaur.

Massachusetts State Representative Jack Patrick Lewis reveals the dinosaur that will be proposed in legislation calling for an official state dinosaur.

The idea of picking a state dinosaur came to Massachusetts state representative Jack Lewis while brainstorming Covid-safe projects for his child’s cub scouts chapter that would engage the scouts in both science and the legislative process.

Official state dinosaur bill leaps over first hurdle by Chris Van Buskirk from the Patriot Ledger

The legislation establishing Podokesaurus holyokensis as the Massachusetts state dinosaur has passed its first committee and it is looking hopeful that it will move onto a floor vote soon. The Beneski has one of the casts of the original fossil and has been active in getting this initiative passed! In this article Fred talks a little about the history of the fossil’s discovery.

Dinosaur Bill Unearths New Concern Among Archeologists

Experts are hoping the lawmakers will set up up a commission to figure out how to adequately protect and provide public and professional access to archaeological, geological, and fossil resources in the state.

Dinosaur bill seeks to protect, provide access to fossils by Ryan Feyre from The Reminder

Dinosaur bill seeks to protect and provide access to fossil sites around Massachusetts. Museum Educator Fred Venne encourages exploring local paleontology, but presses the importance of doing so in such a way that finds are preserved for future generations.

2020

Intro to Photogrammetry

Interterm 2020

Participants in this Interterm course worked collaboratively to photograph historical objects and dinosaur track-ways in the Beneski Museum of Natural History.

Facilitated by Hayley Singleton, head of collections and operations at the College's Beneski Museum of Natural History, and Tim Pinault, digitization coordinator at Frost Library, this workshop covered basic workflows and methodologies to create 3D models. Participants used DSLR cameras, Adobe Photoshop and Metashape Pro photogrammetric processing software to create accurate 3D models of historical objects.

2019

Case Closed:

Five people gather around a table examining a dinosaur footprint

Recovered Set of Dinosaur Footprints Finds New Home at Amherst

A 190-million-year-old stolen slab of rock with theropod dinosaur tracks is now in the protective custody of the College’s Beneski Museum of Natural History, thanks to the state Environmental Police.

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Identify It Day

A woman gestures with her hands the size of a fossil bone to a child who listens

Rocks, Bones and Other Mysterious Objects

You never know what you might find in your yard, or in the forest, or on the beach while you’re out for a walk. But there’s a group of scientists at Amherst College who want to help you figure out what that mystery object is.

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