Online Lunch Talk: Dr. Tyler Lyson & Dr. Ian Miller

Speakers: Dr. Tyler Lyson & Dr. Ian Miller Dec. 9 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

FREE! MEMBERS ONLY

Rise of the Mammals: Exceptional Continental Record of Biotic Recovery after the Cretaceous–Paleogene Mass Extinction

By Dr. Tyler Lyson & Dr. Ian Miller

Sixty-six million years ago a 6-mile-wide asteroid slammed into Earth and caused the extinction of more than 75% of life on Earth, including the dinosaurs. This was the single worst day for life on Earth. How and when life rebounded in the aftermath of the extinction has been shrouded in mystery due to a poor fossil record. An extraordinary new discovery east of Colorado Springs preserves a remarkably complete fossil record with entire fossil mammals, turtles, crocodiles, and plants and paints a vivid picture of how life rebounded after Earth’s darkest hour.

DR. TYLER LYSON is curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, where he is responsible for the fossil reptile collection. His research focuses on the early origin and evolution of reptiles, particularly turtles, as well as the driver(s) and tempo of the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction and subsequent ecosystem recovery. He is working on projects in the Denver Basin in Colorado, Williston Basin in North Dakota and Montana, and Karoo Basin in South Africa. Lyson received his Ph.D. and M.A. in geology and paleontology from Yale University, and his B.A. from Swarthmore College. Lyson was a postdoctoral researcher at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History before joining the Denver Museum in 2014.

DR. IAN MILLER is Curator of Paleobotany and Director of Earth & Space Sciences at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. In addition to running the Earth and Space Sciences Departments, he is in charge of the world-class collection of fossil plants at the Museum. His research focuses on fossil leaves and their applications for understanding ancient ecosystems and climate. He is presently working on projects in the Colorado Rockies and along the Colorado Front Range, the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument in Utah, the San Juan Basin in New Mexico, the Williston Basin in North Dakota, and the Morondova Basin in Madagascar. Beyond his work as a scientist, Ian has led Museum initiatives aimed at deepening people’s connection with the natural world, and unearthing major trends in new and existing audiences that will define the future of Museums. Ian received his PhD and MA in geology and paleobotany from Yale University, and his BA from The Colorado College. He has been with the museum since 2006.