Sample Resources
The following are examples of the high-quality, exciting resources that are a part of Seminars on Science. Most of them, from essays to videos, have been written and produced specifically for this course. All students receive a copy of their course resources on CD-ROM for use not only during the course itself, but also as a classroom resource.
Sample Essay - Week 4: Explore the Family Tree of Birds
It has become fairly accepted by paleontologists that birds and dinosaurs have an evolutionary relationship. The big unanswered question remains 'Where in the evolutionary tree did the split occur between nonavian dinosaurs and early birds?' Some answers can be found by studying Archaeopteryx, the most primitive known bird. Read the essay...
Sample Video - Week 2: Fossil Preparation (1:36)
Watch Amy Davidson, a former sculptor who is now a preparator in the Museum's paleontology department, unearth a fossil Oviraptor in the lab. This fossil was brought back from a museum expedition to Mongolia. The removal of dirt and sediment from around fossil remains is slow, painstaking work. Watch the video...
Sample Interactive - Week 4: Theropods Compared
The similarities among theropod dinosaurs and modern birds are often more pronounced than those between theropods and their earlier dinosaur cousins. Examine the skeletons found in this interactive. Can you tell where they fall on the evolutionary tree? Are they dinosaurs? Birds? What are the differences? Explore the interactive...
