The Earth has a long history, and for most of the time has supported life. We will probe the depths of geological time and how life evolved into its current state. Recent advances in microbiology have suggested that eukaryotic cells (those with nuclei) were a logical and even likely outgrowth of evolution in a group of prokaryotic cells (those without nuclei) known as the Asgard Archaea. The Cambrian explosion, while still important, was not the first eukaryotic biodiversity event. We’ll touch on the importance of extinction events in shaping evolutionary pathways. And get an idea of when and how these events took place. There will be a range of fossils displayed to complement the talk.
This presentation will be hybrid, in person and on Zoom. To receive the Zoom link, you need to register for the meeting. We encourage you to participate in person to get a first-hand experience with fossils.
Tom Farrell is an amateur fossil collector and a member of the NHSM Fossil Club as well as several other fossil clubs. He is a Maryland Master Naturalist, and his interest in the current world’s biodiversity extends into the deep past and how we got to this point. He has given several NHSM Fossil Club talks before on the fossils of the Pennsylvania anthracite fields and on beginner fossil preparation techniques.
NHSM’s Fossil Club is a group of novice and more experienced collectors who meet to share knowledge and discuss fossil identification, fossil locations, and other fossil-related topics. Monthly meetings feature guest speakers both from within the club and from outside organizations. We also strive to schedule frequent collection trips to various locations.
Although you don’t need to be a member to attend a meeting, membership gives you access to additional experiences. An annual NHSM membership is $35 for individuals, $50 for families; Fossil Club membership is an additional $5 for individuals and $10 for families.
If you are not yet a member of NHSM, click here to join. When you join as a new member, you can add the club membership(s) of your choice to your registration. Current NHSM members who wish to join any clubs should email the Community Coordinator at rbaldwin@marylandnature.org.
Registration
Levels:- NHSM Fossil Club Member: $0
- NHSM Member: $0
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Education for All: $0
Suggested Donation $5