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A few years ago, a group of
geoscientists and a couple of local retirees combined their interests in
geoscience research and educational activities and created GeoScience
Adventures. Our goal is to provide quality educational programs,
centered in the Bighorn Basin and Big Horn Mountains, and led by professional
geoscientists.
Our Educational Workshops are developed and led
by members of our Science Team, assisted by visiting instructors who are
respected geoscientists with many years of experience in their respective
fields of expertise.
Coordinators
 Cliff
and Row Manuel ~ Cliff, a retired aerospace
engineering systems manager, and Row, a retired teacher and Bighorn Basin
native, are co-founders of GeoScience Adventures and serve as coordinators
and facilitators for all team activities.
THE SCIENCE
TEAM
 Erik. P. Kvale Ph.D. ~ Erik
is a native of nearby Greybull, Wyoming, and is intimately familiar with the Bighorn
Basin. He has a Ph.D. in geology from Iowa State University and is an
internationally recognized sedimentologist and stratigrapher. He has worked extensively in northern
Wyoming, the mid continent, and internationally, and has authored over 50 articles
on various aspects of geology.
Erik
currently is a Senior Geologist with Devon Energy
Corporation and an instructor (and past Field Station Director) at the Iowa State
University Geology Field Station in Shell. He
is the co-discoverer of the Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite near Shell,
Wyoming and a co-founder and principal instructor of GeoScience Adventures.
 Jack Beuthin Ph.D. ~ Until recently, Jack was
Professor of Geology and Chair of the Department of Geology & Planetary
Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown, where he taught courses
in sedimentology, stratigraphy, paleontology, and historical geology.
Beginning in summer of 2008, Jack will be a Senior Geologist for Devon Energy
Company in Oklahoma City, OK.
Jack is a sedimentary
geologist and is best known for his work on fossil soils and on cycles of
sea-level change as recorded in ancient sedimentary strata. Jack shares an equal interest in utilizing
the marvelous geology of the Bighorn
Basin and Big Horn Mountains to teach geology and
paleontology to workshop participants.
He is also an avid amateur astronomer and loves to spend evenings
stargazing in the incredibly dark skies of northern Wyoming.
 Michael K. Brett-Surman Ph.D. ~ Mike has been employed by the
Smithsonian Institution since 1979 and has conducted geoscience research,
collections, and outreach programs in the Bighorn Basin area for the
Smithsonian Institution since 1992, including several dinosaur and marine
reptile fossil sites. He has discovered new dinosaur deposits in four
geologic formations.
Mike has named four new dinosaurs for science, Secernosaurus, Gilmoreosaurus,
Avisaurus, and Anatotitan. He is co-editor, with Dr. James Farlow, of the
award-winning book “The Complete Dinosaur.”
 James Farlow
Ph.D. ~ Jim is professor of geology at Indiana-Purdue
University, Fort Wayne, and an internationally recognized authority on
dinosaur and reptile footprints. He is
the co-editor of the award-winning book “The
Complete Dinosaur”. Jim has done
research on the function of Stegosaurus plates, the shape and function
of theropod teeth, and the paleoecology of dinosaur communities. His
current research is concerned with how exactly we can identify the makers of
dinosaur footprints; in the course of this work he has done experiments with
footprint formation by large ground birds, and has measured bird, theropod
and ornithopod foot skeletons in museums around the world.
 Kim Sowder
GISP ~ Kim Sowder has a B.S.
degree in Geography from Indiana State University and is a certified GIS specialist.
She has been a cartographer and the mapping coordinator for the Indiana
Geological Survey (IGS) for 23 years. She is the creator and author of the
most popular IGS publications at the Hoosier Association of Science Teachers
annual conference, “Handy Handouts”, “Even More Handy Handouts”, and “Handy
Handouts 3”, which provide geologic and geographic information, activities,
and maps for educators to use. Kim has worked with Indiana Science Olympiad
for 7 years and coached “Road Scholar” teams to a state championship.
MAJOR
supporters
David and Paula Flitner have provided major logistical support
to our team since its inception. They also allow the GeoScience Adventures
scientific team to utilize the Flitner
Ranch Dinosaur Tracksite, an extension of the Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite, for scientific and educational
purposes. David and Paula are owners and operators of The Hideout at Flitner Ranch – the ultimate Wyoming guest ranch experience!
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Copyright © 2000 - 2008 GeoScience Adventures, Inc.
Last Modified 4-21-2008
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