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This show is part of a series exploring Science Moab’s School to Science Program, connecting students with scientists in the field, the lab, and beyond. In this episode, guest interviewer M.A. Russell talks with mentor Emily Lessner, paleontologist for the Bureau of Land Management, and Shadis McDaniel, a recent Grand County High School graduate. Shadis joined Emily on a couple of job shadows, both in the office and in the field.
Science Moab: Can you tell me a little bit about your job shadows?
McDaniel: The main one that we’ve been working on is working on display cases that Emily takes around the schools. We made the signs for the display case, and they have different facts and what time period they’re from and what they ate. There was also a piece of the plant that we had the fossils of, and also petrified wood.
Lessner: And before this, they were just sitting in a case unlabeled. People in the office would ask, “Hey, so are you gonna label those?” So now it looks great.
McDaniel: We had the Allosaurus, the Utahraptor, the Stegosaurus — so many dinosaurs. The Nanosaurus — that one took forever to find out what it was during because we only have the foot.
Lessner: Yeah, and I didn’t recognize it. It’s this really small foot with like three claws, I believe, and then like a very weird one to the side, and we just stared at it. That one took like two days to figure out. But the dinosaur itself is slightly larger than a turkey.
McDaniel: And then this one I always struggle saying, but the name means “two-crested lizard.” And that one is the one with the crests on its head. Jurassic Park did that one dirty.
Lessner: It’s true. The Dilophosaurus.
McDaniel: Yeah, they didn’t do it right. It only has the crests. Jurassic Park did it with like a frilly collar. But, with what we’ve learned as of right now with how their bone structures are, they only have the crests.
Science Moab: Can you tell me a little bit about your job shadow at the Mill Canyon Track Site?
McDaniel: We did track cleanups there with different types of brooms. And you do not go on to it, but if you’re working with a scientist who’s cleaning it, you have to take your shoes off.
Lessner: Yeah, it’s a fragile surface. So we get out there in our socks and our bare feet. It keeps you thinking about where your feet are.
McDaniel: It was really cool seeing them and comparing the tracks. My favorite was where one had stepped over another one over time and it fossilized like that.
Science Moab: What’s something that you’ll take away from this experience?
McDaniel: What I’m gonna take away from this experience is, one, understanding better how scientists work day to day. There are different things that say what scientists do, like in articles and shows, but being with them in person is much better. And also having to communicate with adults better — that’s a big thing for me. And all the knowledge of dinosaurs.
Lessner: How to communicate with high school students of this day. It changes every few years. All the high school students are very, very different depending on the generation. It also just cements how great of an organization Science Moab is. I don’t have to like go out and find Shadis. They just bring you to me and it saves me time. And then you’re already interested. I’m not working with a student who’s like “dinosaurs are fine.” I get to work with a student like you who’s like “let’s go paleontology!” That’s such an awesome experience.
Science Moab: Do you have any advice for people who are interested in getting involved with the School to Science Program?
McDaniel: I say take the step. If you’re interested in it, do it. Because in reality, we have very little time in a day, and so we need to use every moment of it and do stuff that you enjoy. That’s what I try to learn, and it is very fun knowing that if you take that step, you have the experience and the stories to tell later on. You need to have some fun lore, and that’s what you get with this.
Lessner: Sometimes folks doing science are intimidated or they feel busy, and it’s really worth it — helping others into science. And then also, like, this was a project that I was gonna do anyway, so we just did it together. It didn’t take away from my work. It taught me some things and I had a good time. And so there are ways to work it into the schedule and yeah, take the step. Just go for it.
Science Moab: Shadis, do you think you’ll continue seeking knowledge about dinosaurs and paleontology throughout your life?
McDaniel: Absolutely! Whenever I go up to college, the first thing I’m gonna do is find the Natural History Museum up in Salt Lake. And I am gonna take my knowledge and just learn more with it and then use that to teach others as well. When I can, I’m gonna try to help Emily too, whenever I come down to visit. Anytime she needs volunteers, if I’m able to, I’ll come help clean up dinosaurs.
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