Paleontological Workshop in the Courel

This past July, the members of OLIGOlife had the pleasure of participating in the XXII Symposium on Geology Education, held in Courel, Galicia. The symposium took place from Monday, the 8th, to Saturday, the 13th, and was packed with plenary lectures and oral presentations. In addition, attendees enjoyed various field trips to explore the geology of the region.

On both Monday, the 8th, and Tuesday, the 9th, the members of OLIGOlife participated by conducting a workshop titled "How Do We Recover Small Fossil Material? Practical Workshop on Washing and Sieving Techniques." Washing and sieving is one of the most basic procedures for recovering small fossils in paleontology, including material such as small vertebrate remains, seeds, and more. While this method is time-consuming, it is also one of the least visible aspects of the profession to the public. The session began with a brief introduction to washing and sieving methods, showcasing the classic research tools used to perform these tasks. Afterward, participating students had the opportunity to practice both washing and sieving techniques themselves. Additionally, they were provided with fossils collected using these methods in the Galician region.

Figure 1. Students attending the workshop. Credits: B. Moncunill-Solé CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED.

In conclusion, we emphasize that the recovery of fossil material is essential for the advancement of paleontology and for understanding the evolution of life on our planet. It is the first step in gaining knowledge about past species and delving into their biology. Despite its importance (as there is no science without fossils), these techniques and procedures are still relatively unknown to the general public. For this reason, it is particularly valuable for high school students to understand and actively engage with these methods and procedures. Beyond biological and evolutionary knowledge, this practical activity helps students develop basic skills that are crucial for their future, such as handling scientific instruments, among others.

The regional and autonomous press covered the congress as well as the various workshops. In this regard, the OLIGOlife PI, Dr. Alejandro Blanco, was interviewed by the media outlet G24. You can watch the full news segment here (in Spanish).

Figure 2. Still frame from the interview with Dr. Alejandro Blanco. Watch the full video here.