
2006 FOSSIL LAB INTERNSHIP

Using an air scribe (a miniature version of a jackhammer),
Roman clears away sediment from Suchomimus fossils.
Photo L Jansen
This summer, three Chicago Public High School students got to experience what it is like to “prep” 110 million-year-old dinosaur fossils at the University of Chicago’s Fossil Lab. Working alongside professional fossil preparators, these students were immersed in the process of cleaning, stabilizing, and preserving fossils during their six-week internship. Under the direction of Lab Volunteer Coordinator, Stephanie Crofts, all three students learned special techniques and utilized a variety of tools while uncovering and cleaning fossils from two species of ancient reptiles, Suchomimus and Sarchosuchus (aka SuperCroc).
The three students, Dominique, Juan, and Roman, are all entering their senior year of high school and have developed a passion for science and field work through many of Project Exploration’s programs. This internship provided them with a unique experience of working in an active lab and research environment that will make them even more prepared and equipped to study science in college.
Click on the links below to learn about each individual intern, read their personal stories, and discover what working in a fossil lab is really like through their daily journals.
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