Bama Bug Fest will return in-person to celebrate the diversity and benefits of arthropods at the Alabama Museum of Natural History on April 9. What hatched as a small nature-themed museum event a few years ago has metamorphosed into the Bama Bug Fest, a community celebration of “bugs.”
Collections News
Student finds rare mosasaur bones at Harrell Station
On Saturday, March 26, a class field trip was scheduled for students enrolled in the undergraduate Paleontology & Society course offered through the selective Blount Scholars Program at the University of Alabama. The classic fossil locality Harrell Station Paleontological Site in Dallas County was the destination of this trip.
Bama Bug Fest 2022 (April 9)
Bama Bug Fest is returning to an in-person event this year on April 9, 2022 at a NEW location: the Alabama Museum of Natural History!
Paleontology collection supports new cephalopod exhibit
Specimens in the paleontology collections of The University of Alabama Museums in Mary Harmon Bryant Hall get used for a variety of purposes such as scientific research, exhibits, teaching, and for outreach events.
Volunteer Achievement Award for Bing Blewitt
Dr. Harry L. “Bing” Blewitt, a retired chemistry professor at The University of Alabama, has been a volunteer in the paleontology collections at The University of Alabama Museums since 1999.
Remembering Dr. Edward O. Wilson
The University of Alabama lost one of its legends on December 26, 2021. Professor Edward O. Wilson was a giant in many ways.
New giant fossil marine reptile skull for the museum
This month, a 75-million-year-old mosasaur fossil from Alabama was graciously donated to the paleontology collections of the Alabama Museum of Natural History. The 2-feet-long skull is remarkably complete warrants further study by specialists.
UA professor emeritus receives Alabama Avocational Paleontologist Award
Dr. Ron Buta, professor emeritus of Astronomy, has been a major force in avocational or amateur paleontology since he rediscovered his interest in paleontology in mid-1990s. For his substantial contributions uncovering the prehistory of Alabama, he has been selected as the 2021 recipient of the prestigious Alabama Avocational Paleontologist Award.
Generous donation to the paleontology collection
On Friday, October 8th, a fossil turtle, a fish, and various crustaceans were donated to the Alabama Museum of Natural History collection by UA Museums’ Research Associate Mr. George Martin. George found all specimens himself in Alabama and prepared them by removing the surrounding rock and stabilizing the fossils using a specialized resin as needed.
IMLS Grant Awarded to Paleontology Collection
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded a $39,944 grant to the paleontology collections of the Alabama Museum of Natural History. The goal of this project is the rehousing, digitizing, and imaging of the cataloged part of the historic invertebrate paleontology and type collections over the next two years starting in September.