Today, Antarctica sits icy, empty and cold. But there was a time when it was covered in lush forests, plants … and dinosaurs! How could such an icy and desolate landmass have been a warm habitat for some of Earth’s biggest creatures?
On Monday, March 31, learn about the unique challenges and discoveries of paleontology in Antarctica. We’ll be joined by Dr. Nathan Smith — known as the “Polar Explorer” — from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles‘ Dinosaur Institute and co-curator of the Antarctic Dinosaurs exhibition, along with Dr. Ashley Poust, paleontologist at the University of Nebraska State Museum.
Social hour includes light hors d’oeuvres (while supplies last), a cash bar and a chance to view Antarctic Dinosaurs exhibition.
- 5-6:20PM: Social hour and exhibit exploration
- 6:30PM: Presentation
- Please note, the museum will not be open for general admission on March 31 but will open at 5PM for visitors attending the event.
How to register
Advanced registration is required. Regular admission rates apply; free for museum members!
- Online: Click on the green “Register” icon (Please note, your registration is not complete until you’ve clicked the “Check Out” button)
- Phone: 402-444-5071
- Email: [email protected]
About the speakers
Dr. Nathan Smith supervises the Dinosaur Institute staff and conducts research on dinosaur evolution. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Augustana College, M.S. from the University of Iowa and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, and was a professor at Howard University before joining the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County in 2015. Fieldwork has taken Nate to Antarctica, Argentina, China and the western United States. His research is funded by the National Science Foundation and focuses on the evolution of Triassic–Jurassic dinosaurs and the use of comparative methods in paleontology. His Antarctic field program is featured in the 3D IMAX® movie, Dinosaurs of Antarctica, and he co-curated the traveling exhibit Antarctic Dinosaurs.
Ashley Poust is the inaugural Dr. Michael and Jane Voorhies Endowed Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the University of Nebraska State Museum. Poust most recently served as a postdoctoral researcher at the San Diego Natural History Museum. He collaborated on efforts to identify a jaw in the museum’s fossil collection, leading to the discovery of one of the earliest saber-toothed predators. Poust obtained a bachelor’s degree in geology and French from Augustana College, a master’s degree in earth sciences from Montana State University and a doctorate in integrative biology from the University of California, Berkeley. At the University of Nebraska State Museum, Poust oversees the management of the museum’s extensive fossil collection, with a focus on Ashfall Fossil Beds.