March 4-6
Burpee Museum is once again hosting one of the coolest paleontology festivals in the world. Don't miss PaleoFest 2022, as we join forces with scientists from around the world and going live on:
Join the Fun
Dino-lovers, rock collectors, and fossil diggers unite for an internationally attended festival. Our audience includes scientists and researchers, aspiring scientists, students, paleo-lovers, and even dino-loving kiddos! Many of the talks focus on our speakers' cutting edge research and amazing new finds.
Not Just for Professional Scientists
Students, interested community members, and aspiring scientists are encouraged to join the experts as they share stories, research, and experiences. It is a great opportunity to make connections and become inspired! Not ready for the lectures? Families can still enjoy hands-on workshops, lectures for children, and activities for families throughout our museum...paleo science is presented in a fun, big way.
Family Fun
Bring your best dino roar, paleo costume, and jump into so many fun ways to win contests, learn about prehistoric animals and explore the halls of Burpee!
Artists Encouraged!
Enjoy drawing dinosaurs? Learn from the experts in both the lectures and PaleoArt workshops as your art brings to life scenes from long ago that no human has seen before!
Burpee Museum's PaleoFest offers multiple ticket packages. Use the graphic below to help navigate what is the best fit for you, or your group! Questions? Do not hesitate to contact the museum. We would be happy to help you pick the best package for your best PaleoFest adventure!
What to do?
Science Talks & Lectures
Check out our lecture passes. There will be different speakers on Saturday & Sunday with a full slate of awesome research. You can purchase a one day pass, or the full weekend day pass. All lecture passes include general admission to the full museum.
A special paleo celebration dinner and research talk features our keynote presenter. The keynote is not included in the day lecture pass. Best Deal = PaleoPackage. This gets you all the daytime speakers plus the keynote and dinner.
Just Stopping By
With a general admission only ticket, you will enjoy a museum full of awesome exhibits plus several special PaleoFest only stations and temporary interactive exhibits.
Enhance your Family Visit
Walking through the museum on PaleoFest is very special...but upgrade your fun with a hands-on workshop! Geared at paleo loving youth, these workshops feature science experimentation, activities, small group learning, art training, and even a family friendly research lecture from one of our visiting scientists. Don't miss the variety of these special add-on.
Best Deal = Family Do It All Pass!!
Be a VIP
Do all the classes and get the VIP treatment. This includes a special time to chat with a visiting scientist. This is a great option for families with little scientists ready to share their questions, or adults looking to grow their paleo network.
Special PaleoActivities
Family Fun!
Museum Activities, Special learning, exhibit tours, and activities throughout the museum, Add-on workshops, classes, and more!
Research Talks
New Research
Talks about cutting edge Paleo Research. Students, interested community members, and aspiring scientists are encouraged to join the experts!
Student Symposium
Student Event
Join us for live chats with scientists, view their photos, and learn about researching and adventures.
Sponsor PaleoFest 2022
Help Make 2022 A Success
Reach a large group of local families, scientists, and many from abroad!
This is a sample of the types of talks. The 2022 schedule will be released soon!
Saturday
10:00 -10:30am: Heidi Allen
“Tiny but mighty: how microbes shaped the course of life on Earth”
10:30-11:00am BREAK
11:00-11:30am Dr. Lauren Sallan
“How Mass Extinctions Fundamentally Changed Early Fishes”
11:30 - 1:00pm LUNCH
1:00 - 1:30pm Dr. Diego Pol
“What is the link between the rise of giant dinosaurs, massive volcanoes, and climate change in the Jurassic?”
1:30 - 2:00pm BREAK
2:00 - 2:30pm Nancy Engelhardt-Moore
“Rig Life: The Role of a Micropaleontologist”
2:30 - 3:00pm BREAK
3:00 - 3:30pm Dr. Dave Hone
“The North African giant theropod Spinosaurus – what was it doing?”
3:30 - 4:00pm BREAK
4:00 - 4:30pm Dr. Steve Salisbury
“Beyond the 'mid' Cretaceous; new insights into the nature and composition of Australia's dinosaurian fauna during the Early Cretaceous and Jurassic using ichnological data"
All of the lectures below will take place in the "Research" section
Sunday
10:00 -10:30am: Dr. Caitlin Colleary
“Investigating Molecular Preservation in Fossils Using Museum Collections”
10:30-11:00am BREAK
11:00-11:30am Dr. Rex Hanger
"The First Paleontologists of the Midwest: Linear Effigy Mounds are Representations of Fossils”
11:30 - 1:00pm LUNCH
1:00 - 1:30pm Dr. Spencer Hellert
“Understanding the Causes of Phenotypic Integration Patterns in the Evolution of Flightless Birds”
1:30 - 2:00pm BREAK
2:00 - 2:30pm Dr. Julie Meachen
“Frozen in time: An Ice Age pup from Canada named Zhùr”
2:30 - 3:00pm BREAK
3:00 - 3:30pm Eric Scott
"North American Bison: an American success story”
3:30 - 4:00pm BREAK
4:00 - 4:30pm Dr. Thomas Holtz
“Jane's Part-time Summer Job: Tyrannosaurid Niche Shifts in Light of Changing Theropod Guild Structures”
About Burpee Museum's Paleofest
Started in 1999, PaleoFest has become an internationally recognized & respected program that celebrates the science of Paleontology. PaleoFest is an exemplar program to excite, educate & inspire all people in science. This 3-day event includes many educational programs & activities for ALL levels of interest in paleontology. Each year, PaleoFest attracts nearly 2,000 visitors and some of the biggest names in the field.