Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration
@elevationscience.bsky.social
Hands-on paleontology in Montana.
Research. Education. Outreach.
Fossil digs, field courses, and behind-the-scenes science!
Research. Education. Outreach.
Fossil digs, field courses, and behind-the-scenes science!
Ajkaceratops...is actually a ceratopsian?
A new paper confirms that Ajkaceratops does indeed belong to Ceratopsia! Not only that, but some other rhabdodontids do too.
Were you surprised by this news? Congratulations to Susannah Maidment and fellow authors on this paper! 🎉
A new paper confirms that Ajkaceratops does indeed belong to Ceratopsia! Not only that, but some other rhabdodontids do too.
Were you surprised by this news? Congratulations to Susannah Maidment and fellow authors on this paper! 🎉
January 11, 2026 at 8:52 PM
Ajkaceratops...is actually a ceratopsian?
A new paper confirms that Ajkaceratops does indeed belong to Ceratopsia! Not only that, but some other rhabdodontids do too.
Were you surprised by this news? Congratulations to Susannah Maidment and fellow authors on this paper! 🎉
A new paper confirms that Ajkaceratops does indeed belong to Ceratopsia! Not only that, but some other rhabdodontids do too.
Were you surprised by this news? Congratulations to Susannah Maidment and fellow authors on this paper! 🎉
Fossil Friday — Hovda Highlights! 🦴
In 2025, we opened a new site discovered in 2024. It's small, but productive; producing limb bones, vertebrae, ribs, and more — likely sauropods, theropods, and maybe early ornithopters like Dryosaurus.
In 2025, we opened a new site discovered in 2024. It's small, but productive; producing limb bones, vertebrae, ribs, and more — likely sauropods, theropods, and maybe early ornithopters like Dryosaurus.
January 9, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Fossil Friday — Hovda Highlights! 🦴
In 2025, we opened a new site discovered in 2024. It's small, but productive; producing limb bones, vertebrae, ribs, and more — likely sauropods, theropods, and maybe early ornithopters like Dryosaurus.
In 2025, we opened a new site discovered in 2024. It's small, but productive; producing limb bones, vertebrae, ribs, and more — likely sauropods, theropods, and maybe early ornithopters like Dryosaurus.
We did it — we surpassed our fundraiser goal! 🎉 Huge thanks to everyone who donated, shared, and supported Elevation Science. Your generosity fuels hands-on discovery, outreach, and work on the next incredible find.
January 7, 2026 at 1:30 AM
We did it — we surpassed our fundraiser goal! 🎉 Huge thanks to everyone who donated, shared, and supported Elevation Science. Your generosity fuels hands-on discovery, outreach, and work on the next incredible find.
We're kicking off a new series on the Elevation Science blog: The Rambling Scientist, by Dr. Rick Schmidt.
It’s for anyone who's ever looked at the stars, the sky, the Earth, and thought, “Huh… what’s going on here?”
Stay tuned on The Field Journal.
elevationscience.org/field-journal
It’s for anyone who's ever looked at the stars, the sky, the Earth, and thought, “Huh… what’s going on here?”
Stay tuned on The Field Journal.
elevationscience.org/field-journal
January 4, 2026 at 7:31 PM
We're kicking off a new series on the Elevation Science blog: The Rambling Scientist, by Dr. Rick Schmidt.
It’s for anyone who's ever looked at the stars, the sky, the Earth, and thought, “Huh… what’s going on here?”
Stay tuned on The Field Journal.
elevationscience.org/field-journal
It’s for anyone who's ever looked at the stars, the sky, the Earth, and thought, “Huh… what’s going on here?”
Stay tuned on The Field Journal.
elevationscience.org/field-journal
Big congrats to former Elevation Science intern Jeb Bugos! 🎉
Jeb is a co-author on a 2025 Science paper featuring new research related to Nanotyrannus. So proud to see our past interns contributing to paleontology!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Jeb is a co-author on a 2025 Science paper featuring new research related to Nanotyrannus. So proud to see our past interns contributing to paleontology!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
January 3, 2026 at 1:30 AM
Big congrats to former Elevation Science intern Jeb Bugos! 🎉
Jeb is a co-author on a 2025 Science paper featuring new research related to Nanotyrannus. So proud to see our past interns contributing to paleontology!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Jeb is a co-author on a 2025 Science paper featuring new research related to Nanotyrannus. So proud to see our past interns contributing to paleontology!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Hello, 2026. 💛
A new year means new questions and more discovery ahead. Happy New Year from Elevation Science!
A new year means new questions and more discovery ahead. Happy New Year from Elevation Science!
January 2, 2026 at 1:30 AM
Hello, 2026. 💛
A new year means new questions and more discovery ahead. Happy New Year from Elevation Science!
A new year means new questions and more discovery ahead. Happy New Year from Elevation Science!
Today is the LAST day to support discovery experiences and the work behind incredible discoveries like The Queen of Skywalker B. Donations are matched dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000 through midnight.
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
January 1, 2026 at 1:30 AM
Today is the LAST day to support discovery experiences and the work behind incredible discoveries like The Queen of Skywalker B. Donations are matched dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000 through midnight.
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
And with that… 2025 comes to an end.
A quick recap of field days, lab work, and discovery made possible by our team and community. Grateful for everyone who was part of it. Goodnight, 2025. ❤️✨
See everyone next year!
A quick recap of field days, lab work, and discovery made possible by our team and community. Grateful for everyone who was part of it. Goodnight, 2025. ❤️✨
See everyone next year!
December 31, 2025 at 1:52 AM
And with that… 2025 comes to an end.
A quick recap of field days, lab work, and discovery made possible by our team and community. Grateful for everyone who was part of it. Goodnight, 2025. ❤️✨
See everyone next year!
A quick recap of field days, lab work, and discovery made possible by our team and community. Grateful for everyone who was part of it. Goodnight, 2025. ❤️✨
See everyone next year!
Discovery builds curiosity, confidence, and connection through hands-on science. As the year comes to a close, there’s still time to support discovery, and December gifts go even further with matching donations up to $10,000!
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
December 28, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Discovery builds curiosity, confidence, and connection through hands-on science. As the year comes to a close, there’s still time to support discovery, and December gifts go even further with matching donations up to $10,000!
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
Kelley (Week 1 participant of our 2025 field season) stopped by to visit our Paleo Prep Lab Manager Katie at the Cincinnati Museum Center! We love seeing participants outside of field season, too.
Hope to dig dinosaurs with you again next year, Kelley!
Hope to dig dinosaurs with you again next year, Kelley!
December 24, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Kelley (Week 1 participant of our 2025 field season) stopped by to visit our Paleo Prep Lab Manager Katie at the Cincinnati Museum Center! We love seeing participants outside of field season, too.
Hope to dig dinosaurs with you again next year, Kelley!
Hope to dig dinosaurs with you again next year, Kelley!
Need a last-minute gift idea? 🦕 🎁
Give the gift of discovery with Dinosaur Discovery Days: a hands-on fossil dig day trip in Montana (no experience needed!)
elevationscience.org/fossil-dig-d...
Give the gift of discovery with Dinosaur Discovery Days: a hands-on fossil dig day trip in Montana (no experience needed!)
elevationscience.org/fossil-dig-d...
December 21, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Need a last-minute gift idea? 🦕 🎁
Give the gift of discovery with Dinosaur Discovery Days: a hands-on fossil dig day trip in Montana (no experience needed!)
elevationscience.org/fossil-dig-d...
Give the gift of discovery with Dinosaur Discovery Days: a hands-on fossil dig day trip in Montana (no experience needed!)
elevationscience.org/fossil-dig-d...
Happy Holidays from Elevation Science! ✨
We’re grateful for our staff, volunteers, participants, interns, partners, donors, and everyone who supports discovery and hands-on science.
Wishing you a joyful season and a bright New Year.
We’re grateful for our staff, volunteers, participants, interns, partners, donors, and everyone who supports discovery and hands-on science.
Wishing you a joyful season and a bright New Year.
December 20, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Happy Holidays from Elevation Science! ✨
We’re grateful for our staff, volunteers, participants, interns, partners, donors, and everyone who supports discovery and hands-on science.
Wishing you a joyful season and a bright New Year.
We’re grateful for our staff, volunteers, participants, interns, partners, donors, and everyone who supports discovery and hands-on science.
Wishing you a joyful season and a bright New Year.
Discovery changes people.
Hands-on science builds curiosity, confidence, and connection.
This December, your support helps make those experiences possible, and your impact goes twice as far. Donations are matched up to $10,000 by the Stahl family.
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
Hands-on science builds curiosity, confidence, and connection.
This December, your support helps make those experiences possible, and your impact goes twice as far. Donations are matched up to $10,000 by the Stahl family.
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
December 18, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Discovery changes people.
Hands-on science builds curiosity, confidence, and connection.
This December, your support helps make those experiences possible, and your impact goes twice as far. Donations are matched up to $10,000 by the Stahl family.
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
Hands-on science builds curiosity, confidence, and connection.
This December, your support helps make those experiences possible, and your impact goes twice as far. Donations are matched up to $10,000 by the Stahl family.
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
Need the perfect gift for the dinosaur lover in your life? 🎁🦕
Give them the gift of discovery: a real fossil dig expedition in Montana. Hands-on paleontology, Jurassic fossils, unforgettable memories.
elevationscience.org/fossil-dig-e...
Give them the gift of discovery: a real fossil dig expedition in Montana. Hands-on paleontology, Jurassic fossils, unforgettable memories.
elevationscience.org/fossil-dig-e...
December 17, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Need the perfect gift for the dinosaur lover in your life? 🎁🦕
Give them the gift of discovery: a real fossil dig expedition in Montana. Hands-on paleontology, Jurassic fossils, unforgettable memories.
elevationscience.org/fossil-dig-e...
Give them the gift of discovery: a real fossil dig expedition in Montana. Hands-on paleontology, Jurassic fossils, unforgettable memories.
elevationscience.org/fossil-dig-e...
NEW paper out today in Royal Society Open Science: “Fossilized melanosomes reveal colour patterning of a sauropod dinosaur” (2025). 🦕
Research conducted in part & facilitated by Elevation Science.
Art by Tess Gallagher.
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article...
Research conducted in part & facilitated by Elevation Science.
Art by Tess Gallagher.
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article...
December 11, 2025 at 12:30 AM
NEW paper out today in Royal Society Open Science: “Fossilized melanosomes reveal colour patterning of a sauropod dinosaur” (2025). 🦕
Research conducted in part & facilitated by Elevation Science.
Art by Tess Gallagher.
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article...
Research conducted in part & facilitated by Elevation Science.
Art by Tess Gallagher.
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article...
Discovery changes people.
Our Bring Discovery to Life fundraiser helps more people experience hands-on science; through fieldwork, fossils, and learning by doing.
December donations are matched by the Stahl family up to $10,000, doubling your impact!
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
Our Bring Discovery to Life fundraiser helps more people experience hands-on science; through fieldwork, fossils, and learning by doing.
December donations are matched by the Stahl family up to $10,000, doubling your impact!
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
December 10, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Discovery changes people.
Our Bring Discovery to Life fundraiser helps more people experience hands-on science; through fieldwork, fossils, and learning by doing.
December donations are matched by the Stahl family up to $10,000, doubling your impact!
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
Our Bring Discovery to Life fundraiser helps more people experience hands-on science; through fieldwork, fossils, and learning by doing.
December donations are matched by the Stahl family up to $10,000, doubling your impact!
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
2026 field internship applications are now open at Elevation Science!
If you want hands-on experience in field science/paleontology with an expert team, apply here:
elevationscience.org/internships
Questions welcome!
If you want hands-on experience in field science/paleontology with an expert team, apply here:
elevationscience.org/internships
Questions welcome!
December 9, 2025 at 12:30 AM
2026 field internship applications are now open at Elevation Science!
If you want hands-on experience in field science/paleontology with an expert team, apply here:
elevationscience.org/internships
Questions welcome!
If you want hands-on experience in field science/paleontology with an expert team, apply here:
elevationscience.org/internships
Questions welcome!
Happy International Volunteer Day! 💛🦴
To our volunteers in the field and the lab: thank you for helping make discovery possible and bringing the past to life.
Support more hands-on discovery: December donations are matched by the Stahl family up to $10,000.
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
To our volunteers in the field and the lab: thank you for helping make discovery possible and bringing the past to life.
Support more hands-on discovery: December donations are matched by the Stahl family up to $10,000.
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
December 6, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Happy International Volunteer Day! 💛🦴
To our volunteers in the field and the lab: thank you for helping make discovery possible and bringing the past to life.
Support more hands-on discovery: December donations are matched by the Stahl family up to $10,000.
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
To our volunteers in the field and the lab: thank you for helping make discovery possible and bringing the past to life.
Support more hands-on discovery: December donations are matched by the Stahl family up to $10,000.
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
🚨 Applications for the Elevation Science 2026 Field Internship open Dec 8!
Spend your summer in Montana learning excavation, mapping, and jacketing with the Elevation Science field team!
Only 2 spots available — applications close Jan 31.
Learn more: elevationscience.org/internships
Spend your summer in Montana learning excavation, mapping, and jacketing with the Elevation Science field team!
Only 2 spots available — applications close Jan 31.
Learn more: elevationscience.org/internships
December 4, 2025 at 1:00 AM
🚨 Applications for the Elevation Science 2026 Field Internship open Dec 8!
Spend your summer in Montana learning excavation, mapping, and jacketing with the Elevation Science field team!
Only 2 spots available — applications close Jan 31.
Learn more: elevationscience.org/internships
Spend your summer in Montana learning excavation, mapping, and jacketing with the Elevation Science field team!
Only 2 spots available — applications close Jan 31.
Learn more: elevationscience.org/internships
This year, our team uncovered an extraordinary sauropod with beautifully preserved articulation, now called The Queen of Skywalker B.
If you’d like to help fund the preparation, research, and excavation of this remarkable find, you can support the project here:
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
If you’d like to help fund the preparation, research, and excavation of this remarkable find, you can support the project here:
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
November 28, 2025 at 6:45 PM
This year, our team uncovered an extraordinary sauropod with beautifully preserved articulation, now called The Queen of Skywalker B.
If you’d like to help fund the preparation, research, and excavation of this remarkable find, you can support the project here:
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
If you’d like to help fund the preparation, research, and excavation of this remarkable find, you can support the project here:
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
November 27, 2025 at 6:04 PM
This week, we're feeling extra grateful.
Elevation Science wouldn't be what it is without the incredible community around us; our staff, participants, volunteers, past interns, students, families, friends, donors, and our partners in science and education.
Happy #Thanksgiving to all who celebrate!
Elevation Science wouldn't be what it is without the incredible community around us; our staff, participants, volunteers, past interns, students, families, friends, donors, and our partners in science and education.
Happy #Thanksgiving to all who celebrate!
November 25, 2025 at 7:33 PM
This week, we're feeling extra grateful.
Elevation Science wouldn't be what it is without the incredible community around us; our staff, participants, volunteers, past interns, students, families, friends, donors, and our partners in science and education.
Happy #Thanksgiving to all who celebrate!
Elevation Science wouldn't be what it is without the incredible community around us; our staff, participants, volunteers, past interns, students, families, friends, donors, and our partners in science and education.
Happy #Thanksgiving to all who celebrate!
Ever wondered what it's like to be a field #paleontology student?
Here's a glimpse of the last couple of summers; #fossil digs, badland hikes, new friends, and hands-on #science.
Want in? Join us for ERTH 491: Field Paleontology in 2026!
Only 6 spots left!
elevationscience.org/college-stud...
Here's a glimpse of the last couple of summers; #fossil digs, badland hikes, new friends, and hands-on #science.
Want in? Join us for ERTH 491: Field Paleontology in 2026!
Only 6 spots left!
elevationscience.org/college-stud...
November 21, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Ever wondered what it's like to be a field #paleontology student?
Here's a glimpse of the last couple of summers; #fossil digs, badland hikes, new friends, and hands-on #science.
Want in? Join us for ERTH 491: Field Paleontology in 2026!
Only 6 spots left!
elevationscience.org/college-stud...
Here's a glimpse of the last couple of summers; #fossil digs, badland hikes, new friends, and hands-on #science.
Want in? Join us for ERTH 491: Field Paleontology in 2026!
Only 6 spots left!
elevationscience.org/college-stud...
Counting down the days until we're back in the dirt again. 🦕⛏️
November 17, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Counting down the days until we're back in the dirt again. 🦕⛏️
Happy #FossilFriday! 🦕
Rachel is holding a juvenile Diplodocus toe bone she helped excavate at the Mother’s Day Quarry in 2024, a 150-million-year-old piece of a Jurassic giant.
Sauropods had short, sturdy toes, which is why their tracks look like big round craters!
Rachel is holding a juvenile Diplodocus toe bone she helped excavate at the Mother’s Day Quarry in 2024, a 150-million-year-old piece of a Jurassic giant.
Sauropods had short, sturdy toes, which is why their tracks look like big round craters!
November 14, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Happy #FossilFriday! 🦕
Rachel is holding a juvenile Diplodocus toe bone she helped excavate at the Mother’s Day Quarry in 2024, a 150-million-year-old piece of a Jurassic giant.
Sauropods had short, sturdy toes, which is why their tracks look like big round craters!
Rachel is holding a juvenile Diplodocus toe bone she helped excavate at the Mother’s Day Quarry in 2024, a 150-million-year-old piece of a Jurassic giant.
Sauropods had short, sturdy toes, which is why their tracks look like big round craters!