Hemet’s Western Science Center will host PaleoCon fossil-themed event – Press Enterprise

The third annual PaleoCon, a fossil-themed event at the Western Science Center in Hemet, will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16.

Paleontologists from across the country will participate in the event at the natural history museum, which will include a presentation with artist Cullen Townsend and a science-inspired poetry reading by Christina Olson, according to a news release.

Each participating scientist will pick a fossil from the museum’s collections and showcase it to visitors, in addition to conducting scientific research in front of the public, according to the news release.

This year’s PaleoCon will also include presentations by the museum’s first cohort of Teen Ambassadors. Selected local high school students have spent six weeks of summer break collaborating with Western Science Center staff members on scientific outreach projects, which they will present to the public during PaleoCon.

For junior scientists, there will be a scavenger hunt and hands-on activities throughout the event. There will also be cookies and iced coffee from Sweetfrecklez and food from Missy’s Hotdogs availabe.

Participating PaleoCon researchers are Brian Beatty, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine; Patrick Heise, University of Oklahoma; Melissa Macias, Duke CRM; Melissa Pardi, Illinois State Museum; Eric Scott and Ascanio Rincon, Cogstone Resource Management; Katy Smith and Christina Olson, Georgia Southern University; Chris Widga, Penn State University; Meagan Weatherall, University of Arizona; Kian McElfresh, UC Riverside; and Stuart Sumida, Cal State San Bernardino.

Each is spending several days before the event conducting research in the museum’s collections.

PaleoCon is sponsored by Dattilo Ristorante Italiano, Milano’s Pizza and Deli, Sprouts Farmers Market, Siam Garden, Dunkin’ and Cynthia’s Sweet Treats.

All PaleoCon activities and events, excluding food, are included in regular museum admission, which is $10 general, $8.50 for age 62 and older, $7.50 for students ages 13-22 with ID and $7 for ages 5-12. Admission is free for children 4 and younger and for active military with ID.

The Western Science Center is at 2345 Searl Parkway, Hemet. For information, go to WesternScienceCenter.org or call 951-791-0033.

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