PaleoFest 2013 Symposium - The End of the Dinosaurs: Changes in the Late Cretaceous Biosphere

Join us for a first of its kind symposium at this year's PaleoFest. In commemoration of Burpee Museum's 15th Annual PaleoFest, we will be hosting a Late Cretaceous symposium titled "The End of the Dinosaurs: Changes in the Late Cretaceous Biosphere" in partnership with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. The symposium will feature approximately 30 lectures from an international, and world-renowned field of speakers.

We are also very excited to welcome back Dr. Scott Sampson, also known as Dr. Scott the Paleontologist, from PBS's popular children's program "Dinosaur Train!" Dr. Scott will be giving TWO Children's Lectures and a Children's Workshop during PaleoFest weekend.

Museum Hours: March 2 & 3, doors open 10am - 5pm, FREE Children's DinoBlast Activities with paid admission from 10am-4pm.

Order Tickets: call 815-965-3433 or visit www.burpee.org, CLICK HERE to print order form.

Special PaleoFest General Admission Price: $12/person - including Rick's Picks!

Saturday Evening Mixer and Dinner Lecture
Join us Saturday evening for a Pre-Dinner Mixer and Dinner Lecture at the Burpee Museum. The Dinner Lecture will be given by Dr. Jack Horner from Montana State University/ Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana.

Dinner Lecture Topic: Dinosaur Shape-Shifting

How exactly do some of our most famous dinosaurs change as they mature? There is strong evidence that some late Cretaceous dinosaurs once thought to be separate taxa are juveniles and adults of the same species. Triceratops and Pachycephalosaurus are examples of dinosaurs that demonstrate very extreme cranial changes through ontogeny. Dr. Horner will highlight these physical alterations and discuss the biomechanical advantages of these changes.

About Dr. Horner:

John R. “Jack” Horner was born and raised in Shelby, Montana, and attended the University of Montana for seven years majoring in geology and zoology. Although never completing a formal degree, the University of Montana awarded him an honorary doctorate of Science in 1986. Also in 1986 he was also awarded a MacArthur Fellowship, otherwise known as the “Genius Grant.” Jack and his teams discovered the first evidence of parental care in dinosaurs, extensive nesting grounds, evidence of dinosaur herds, and the world’s first dinosaur embryos. Jack has named several new species of dinosaurs including Maiasaura, the “good mother reptile.” Two dinosaur species have been named after him. Jack has published more than 170 professional papers, 9 popular books, and more than 100 popular articles. His book Digging Dinosaurs was described by New Scientist Magazine as one of the 200 most important science books of the 20th Century. Jack directs the largest dinosaur field research program in the world. Jack was the technical advisor for Steven Spielberg on all of the Jurassic Park movies, and on the FOX television show Terra Nova. He has been featured on CBS’s 60 Minutes, National Geographic, and The Discovery Channel. Jack is the Curator of Paleontology at the Museum of the Rockies, and Regent’s Professor of Paleontology at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. He is also a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Paleobiology at the Smithsonian Institution, and an Honorary Research Fellow with the Natural History Museum in London. Jack lectures on dinosaurs, evolution and dyslexia.

Mixer: 4:30-6:30, Tickets $10 per person, includes beverages

Dinner Lecture: Buffet Dinner: 6:30, Lecture: 7:30, Tickets $50/Non-members $40/Members, $40/Students

Click here to preview the dinner menu.

Ticket sales will begin December 8, 2012.

Will Call ticket pick-up will begin Monday February 25, 2013 at Burpee Museum.

Students: Include a copy of your Student ID (or proof of enrollment) with your payment. Also, bring your ID/proof of enrollment to will call when you pick up your tickets. Additional Details to Follow.

Order Tickets: call 815-965-3433 or visit www.burpee.org, CLICK HERE to print order form.

Dr. Scott, from PBS's "Dinosaur Train" is back!

Children's Lectures:

Dr. Scott Talks Dinosaurs

These 35-40 minute interactive presentations are aimed at children 2-10 years of age and will address various aspects of dinosaurs. Through the theme of what it takes to become a paleontologist, Dr. Scott will talk about how to discover and dig up fossils, how to tell dinosaurs from non-dinosaurs, and how to identify key features like teeth and claws that tell us about the lifestyles of dinosaurs. He will also highlight the link between ancient dinosaurs and modern day birds.

Children's Lectures will be held off-site at the Rockford Woman's Club: Rockford Theatre.

Dates and Times:

Saturday Children's Lecture: 2pm

Sunday Children's Lecture: 1pm

Tickets: $20/ Non-members $15/Members - Children's Lecture Tickets include General Admission to the Burpee Museum

*Children's Lecture Ticket prices will increase by $5 on PaleoFest weekend.

Ticket sales will begin December 8, 2012.

Early Will Call ticket pick-up will begin Monday February 25, 2013 at Burpee Museum.

Children's Workshops:

Burpee Children's Workshops:

Sunday, March 3, Burpee Educators will host two Children's Workshops at the Burpee Museum. Each workshop will last approximately 45 minutes, workshops will combine a short presentation and a take home activity. Seats for these events are limited to 40 per session. One (1) adult must accompany every four (4) children.

Burpee Children's Workshops and Times:

11am Sunday, March 3rd: SuperCrocs! -

Fossil evidence now shows in the late Cretaceous a predator of dinosaurs that was not a carnivorous dinosaur but a crocodile. Imagine a 10 ton crocodile the size of a school bus or Deinosuchus, King of the Crocodylians, attacking a tyrannosaur. Today’s salt water crocodiles bite force is 4000 pounds or 30,000 pounds per square inch. Experiment with bite force. Get up close to real crocodile and alligator skulls, skeleton, and teeth and have chance to speak with a paleontologist researching super croc. You will make your own Supercroc and its habitat.

2:30pm Sunday, March 3rd: Mysteries of the Horned Dinosaurs -

The variety of horned dinosaurs, Ceratopsians, is ever increasing. Burpee is home to more than10 different horned dinosaur skulls - including Triceratops. They exploded in diversity right before the major extinction at the end of the Cretaceous. Get the low down on current theories for these massive frills and tremendous horns. You will see and handle real frill and triceratops bones. You will get up close to these giant skulls. You will explore Coahuilaceratops, Diabloceratops, Kosmoceratops, Pachyrhinosaurus, Triceratops, Utahceratops, and Zuniceratops. You will have the choice of two to make as puppets. A published horned dinosaur paleontologist will visit the workshop to answer your questions.

Burpee Children's Workshop Tickets: $15/Non-members $10/Members - Burpee Children's Workshop Tickets include General Admission to Burpee Museum

Ticket sales will begin December 8, 2012.

Will Call ticket pick-up will begin Monday February 25, 2013 at Burpee Museum.

Special Dr. Scott Children's Workshop: Digging Dinos with Dr. Scott  Sold Out

Ticket sales will begin December 8, 2012.

Will Call ticket pick-up will begin Monday February 25, 2013 at Burpee Museum.

Every Child who completes all the DinoBlast Stations and attends a

"Dr. Scott" event will receive a Junior Paleontologist Certificate

signed by Dr. Scott Sampson!

Order Tickets: call 815-965-3433 or visit www.burpee.org,

CLICK HERE to print order form.

2-DAY PASS: $80/Non-member, $60/Member, $60/Student
Includes admission to all symposium lectures and General Admission to Burpee Saturday and Sunday.

1-DAY PASS: $60/Non-member, $40/Member, $40/Student
Includes admission to all symposium lectures and General Admission to Burpee on either Saturday or Sunday.

Ticket sales will begin December 8, 2012. Will Call ticket pick-up will begin Monday February 25, 2013 at Burpee Museum.

Students: Include a copy of your Student ID (or proof of enrollment) with your payment. Also, bring your ID/proof of enrollment to will call when you pick up your tickets.

Order Tickets: call 815-965-3433 or visit www.burpee.org, CLICK HERE to print order form.

Burpee Membership:   Join and Save -Burpee Museum Membership

Symposium Schedule:

The PaleoFest symposium "The End of the Dinosaurs: Changes in the Late Cretaceous Biosphere" will feature 30 distinguished researchers from the American Museum of Natural History, University of Alberta, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Montana State University, Royal Tyrrell Museum, Smithsonian Institute Museum of Natural History, University of Toronto as well as speakers from institutions in Argentina, China, Japan, and Scotland. The complete list of speakers will be posted in January.

Order Tickets: call 815-965-3433 or visit www.burpee.org, CLICK HERE to print order form.                       

Speaker Schedule:

For a complete schedule with the speakers' talk titles click here.

 Hotels and Accommodations:

Burpee Museum is pleased to announce that the Lexington Hotel Cliffbreakers Riverside Resort in Rockford, IL as our host hotel for PaleoFest 2013! Cliffbreakers is offering a special PaleoFest room rate, $69.95/night, to anyone attending PaleoFest. Please visit their website for more details about the hotel and to book your accommodations.

Cliffbreakers Contact Information

Address:

700 West Riverside Boulevard
Rockford, IL 61103
United States

Phone:

815-282-3033

Webiste:

http://cliffbreakers.com/

PaleoFest 2013 Sponsors:

Burpee Museum would also like to thank: Lew Crampton, Bob Kantner, Members Alliance Credit Union, Midwest Museum of Natural History, Robert M. P. Moore & Nancy Engelhardt-Moore, Rockford Woman's Club; Rockford Theatre, and Frank Tully.