Chewing on Ancient Oreos

Friday evening, November 6 at the ICCU Bengal Alumni Center participants will hear from one of the world’s experts on Oreodonts, a common but diverse mammal that thrived across North America tens of millions of years ago. Dr. Meaghan Wetherell, Associate Professor of Practice at the University of Arizona’s college of Information Science, will discuss her recent work on Oregon oreodonts has shown they had quite a few bite marks on their cheeks, and more than just playful nips! She will highlight this research and take the listener on an overview of this often misunderstood and completely fascinating group of animals. 

Wetherell holds a Ph.D. in Geoscience from the University of Oregon with a specialization in Paleontology, focusing particularly on the ecology and evolution of hooved mammals. During her dissertation she did too much computer coding and statistics so now works as an Associate Professor of Practice at the University of Arizona’s College of Information Science where she teaches courses in data visualization, science communication, and educational videogame design. She works remotely out of Central Washington, where she owns a growing herd of sheep whom she is training to carry packs so that they can go on backcountry expeditions with her and carry out all her heavy gear and fossils.

The $40/person includes a harvest dinner buffet style, lecture, a Q&A with Dr. Wetherell, and access to an exclusive raffle if skull replicas of Idaho's camel, Oryctodromeus, and Simolodon will be taken home by the lucky winners. Museum Members receive a 20% discount with code, email ambertews@isu.edu if you did not receive your discount code.

More details and tickets are available at isu.edu/imnh. All funding from the event supports educational programming at the museum.