The Department of Earth Sciences explores and documents the evolution of the physical and biological components of the Earth, and facilitates the understanding and protection of our planet and its record of the past.
The department has four curators in the disciplines of vertebrate paleontology, paleobotany/invertebrate paleontology and geology, with collections maintained by a collections manager. The collections have strengths in Mesozoic and Cenozoic vertebrates and plants from the western interior of North America.
Geology collections hold specimens of most mineral species in the Rocky Mountains and others throughout the world. Meteorites and rocks also are represented.
The Schlessman Family Preparation Laboratory is a state-of-the-art facility staffed with two preparators and a host of volunteers. It is part of the Prehistoric Journey exhibition. Staff conduct fieldwork and research throughout the western interior, and they have also developed international collaborative projects.
Collections
- Vertebrate fossils, including 54 primary type specimens
- Plant and invertebrate fossils, including more than 100 types and illustrated specimens
- Rocks, minerals, micromounts, and meteorites
Current Projects
Curators
Kenneth Carpenter
Chief Preparator & Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology
PhD, 1996, University of Colorado
303.370.6392
ken.carpenter@dmns.org
Dr. Carpenter's Website
Ian Miller
Curator of Paleontology and acting Curator of Geology
PhD, 2007, Yale University
303.370.8351
ian.miller@dmns.org
Kirk R. Johnson
Vice President of Research & Collections, Chief Curator and acting Department Chair
PhD, 1989, Yale University
303.370.6448
kirk.johnson@dmns.org
Richard K. Stucky
Curator of Paleoecology & Evolution
PhD, 1982, University of Colorado at Boulder
303.370.6434
richard.stucky@dmns.org
Collections Managers
Logan Ivy
Collections Manager
PhD, 1992, University of Colorado
303.370.6474 or 303.370.6421
logan.ivy@dmns.org
Tom Hughes
Mineralogy Collection Evaluator
303.370.6355
thomas.hughes@dmns.org
Department Staff
Beth Ellis
Denver Basin Project Manager
303.370.6470
beth.ellis@dmns.org
Deb Longhofer
Office Manager
303.370.8270
deb.longhofer@dmns.org
Bryan Small
Preparator
303.370.6404
bryan.small@dmns.org