BY TONY MARTIN
Paleo-Interview with Gabriel (Gabe) Santos
This month’s paleo-interview is with Gabriel (Gabe) Santos, who is the Collections Manager and Outreach Coordinator for the Alf Museum in Claremont, California. He’s also the co-founder of Cosplay for Science, which has a goal of using cosplay (dressing up as popular characters) for science communication.
When did you first become interested in fossils and paleontology?
Like most children, I was fascinated with fossils and paleontology from a very young age. According to my family, my bedroom in my very early years was filled with dinosaur toys. It may be their fault, though, for taking me to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles and the La Brea Tarpits all the time. Though to be fair, it was pretty much in our backyard. Both are such amazing museums, and the Tarpits in particular really stand out in my memories as a place that made feel wonder and awe looking at these animals that are gone. Things that my eyes could never see alive. It was such a weird and consuming concept for me that it just took over my imagination.
There was also of course amazing dinosaur movies like The Land Before Time, We’re Back: A Dinosaur Story, and the best of all, Jurassic Park, that came out when I was a kid that definitely contributed to my interest in paleontology. All in all, I was most intrigued by the stories and untold stories that paleontology held. I love telling stories and creating worlds with my imagination, so an ancient world was perfect fodder to feed my very active imagination.
What do you enjoy the most about paleontology?
What I enjoy most about paleontology is the same thing that I enjoyed most when I was a kid. It’s all about the stories. Stories of an ancient world unseen by humans, stories of individual dinosaurs and the lives they led, stories about the old-time explorers discovering something unknown. All of these kinds of stories still infatuate my imagination to this day. Probably the best part about paleontology is that there are billions of years’ worth of stories left to tell, and as a paleontologist, I get the opportunity to tell some of them.
What’s your favorite fossil and why?
Anyone will tell you my favorite kind of fossils are desmostylian teeth. They are so weird! They look like a bunch of sushi rolls are squished together and there is really not much else like them. And again with my whole story thing that I have going on, we know very little about these animals whose teeth are actually quite common in the fossil record. So yeah, a weird animal with lots left to discover, of course it’s my favorite!
Given your experiences as a professional paleontologist, what advice would you have for people interested in working in paleontology in a variety of careers?
Probably the thing I tell most people interested in becoming a paleontologist is that there isn’t just one specific path to take. A career in paleontology is a winding and branching path that leads to many different destinations. So I say, be flexible and take time to explore these different paths a bit. Find the one that is best for you, because in the end, you want to enjoy your career, especially if you are a paleontologist. We have one of the best fields to have a job in! It should be fun overall.
Oh, and another thing: don’t be afraid or ashamed to have to take things slow or have to take a step back. We understand deep time, so taking more than a few years to finish a master’s degree or a project or a paper or whatever is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. But then also don’t stall out on things. If a publication is taking 10 years to get started, maybe it’s time to pass it on to someone else.
You’ve had a number of experiences in education and outreach, including outreach outside of North America and in looking at paleontology education in new and exciting ways – we love Cosplay for Science! Why do you think it’s important for more people outside of academia to know about fossils and paleontology?
Thanks, I love Cosplay for Science too! It’s been such a fun project and the people we have met through it have really shown us the importance of understanding the different ways people connect with paleontology and science in general. We are humans and each and every one of us is a complex being with different backgrounds and what not. For many, practicing science just was not part of the game. But, science definitely plays a part in the many things we love. By helping people find the connection between science and the everyday parts of their lives that they love, perhaps we can open a door that help people to want to learn more about science, understand the need for critical thinking, be less afraid to ask questions about the world around, and maybe even build trust in scientists.
Related Websites and Publications
The Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology aims to present a comprehensive and authoritative yet compact statement of knowledge concerning groups of invertebrate fossils. Learn More
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New tracks from the Coconino Sandstone shed light on the presence of possible diadectomorphs in the Permian of Arizona, take a look!
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An international team of paleontologists has united to study important fossil footprints recently discovered in a remote location within Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. A large sandstone boulder ...
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Join us at the Cordilleran Geological Society of America meeting Wednesday, May 15th, 2019 from 5:30-7PM!
Catch up with the Paleontological Society, enjoy refreshments and reconnect with colleagues and friends after the poster session. Hope to see many of you then!
Catch up with the Paleontological Society, enjoy refreshments and reconnect with colleagues and friends after the poster session. Hope to see many of you then!
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GSA Topical Session 113: FUTURE LEADERS IN PALEONTOLOGY
A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR PS STUDENT MEMBERS AT GSA!
(Submission Deadline: Friday, June 21st)
The Paleontological Society is pleased to announce the inauguration of a new topical session at the 2019 GSA Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Future Leaders in Paleontology (Topical Session T113).
The goal of the session is to showcase the outstanding work of our... See More
A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR PS STUDENT MEMBERS AT GSA!
(Submission Deadline: Friday, June 21st)
The Paleontological Society is pleased to announce the inauguration of a new topical session at the 2019 GSA Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Future Leaders in Paleontology (Topical Session T113).
The goal of the session is to showcase the outstanding work of our... See More
3 weeks ago
Dear Members of the Paleontological Society,
We are writing with late-breaking information about the 2019 March for Science. It was announced
recently that the main March will take place on May 4 th in New York City, with satellite marches taking
place that day around the world.
As you likely know, the Paleontological Society was a co-sponsor of the previous two marches, which
took place in Washing... See More
We are writing with late-breaking information about the 2019 March for Science. It was announced
recently that the main March will take place on May 4 th in New York City, with satellite marches taking
place that day around the world.
As you likely know, the Paleontological Society was a co-sponsor of the previous two marches, which
took place in Washing... See More
3 weeks ago
Congratulations Anna K. Behrensmeyer of @NMNH, recipient of 2019 @theNASciences G. K. Warren Prize! Behrensmeyer is honored for contributing to our understanding of how environmental factors drive evolution. She will be presented with the award during #NAS156, the 156th NAS Annual Meeting at 2PM EDT on Sunday, April 28! #NASawardbit.ly/BehrensmeyerWarren
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3 weeks ago
The Committee of the Norman Newell Early Career Grant has completed its review of applicants and is pleased to announce the following awardees (listed in alphabetical order.)
Thank you for your support of the grant, and thank yous to Committee members Ellen Currano and outgoing member Jessica Theodor for their careful and thoughtful reviews and pleasant deliberations on a rather challenging task g... See More
Thank you for your support of the grant, and thank yous to Committee members Ellen Currano and outgoing member Jessica Theodor for their careful and thoughtful reviews and pleasant deliberations on a rather challenging task g... See More
4 weeks ago
From our friends at National Academy of Sciences:
Anna K. Behrensmeyer will be presented with the G. K. Warren Prize at the NAS Awards Ceremony on Sunday, April 28, at 2:00 pm. The ceremony will be webcast live and we will be promoting it widely on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Join us in celebrating this year’s NAS award recipients using #NAS156 and #NASaward!
Anna K. Behrensmeyer will be presented with the G. K. Warren Prize at the NAS Awards Ceremony on Sunday, April 28, at 2:00 pm. The ceremony will be webcast live and we will be promoting it widely on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Join us in celebrating this year’s NAS award recipients using #NAS156 and #NASaward!
4 weeks ago
Getting ready for your summer field season? Before you go, make sure to check out the AGI/AGU webinar recording on Preventing Bullying and Harassment in the Field! www.americangeosciences.org/workforce/webinars/preventing-bullying-and-harassment-field
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1 month ago
Quantitative Methods in Phylogenetic Paleobiology
We are pleased to announce the 2019 Paleontological Society Short Course, “Quantitative Methods in Phylogenetic Paleobiology,” organized by David
Bapst, Sandy Carlson, Laura Soul, Peter Wagner, Rachel Warnock, April Wright & Davey Wright.
Following the example set in the 2018 “Pedagogy and Technology in the Modern Paleontology Classroom” short co... See More
We are pleased to announce the 2019 Paleontological Society Short Course, “Quantitative Methods in Phylogenetic Paleobiology,” organized by David
Bapst, Sandy Carlson, Laura Soul, Peter Wagner, Rachel Warnock, April Wright & Davey Wright.
Following the example set in the 2018 “Pedagogy and Technology in the Modern Paleontology Classroom” short co... See More
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There has been considerable development of Bayesian and likelihood methods for assessing phylogenetic relationships in recent years. This includes advances in probabilistic models of anatomical charac...
1 month ago
Thank you to the California Science Teachers Association for sharing this great, upcoming training at NAPC 2019 - run by The FOSSIL Project!
Educators in southern California, you can sign up here!
Educators in southern California, you can sign up here!
classroomscience.org
This will be a free workshop and will provide teachers with the knowledge of how to access paleontological-related material, background on the content, and hands-on experience with the activities. &he...Our Twitter Feed
Brand new paleo-interview with Gabe Santos @PaleoParadoX at the @alfmuseum! Check out his path to paleontology and the exciting work he's doing with @Cosplay4Science!
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Badlands National Park is currently recruiting for a permanent Geologist / Paleontologist position (GS-11). Below are the links to the vacancy announcements on USA Jobs.
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Join us next week at the Cordilleran @geosociety meeting, Wednesday May 15th, 5:30-7pm - for our regional Paleo Society meet-up! Hope to see many of you there! https://t.co/XBIoglRnpo
Watch Anna K. Behrensmeyer of @NMNH receive @theNASciences G. K. Warren Prize for her work in fluviatile geology at #NAS156 today, April 28, at 2PM EDT! Just under an hour until broadcast time - see you there! #NASaward #evolution https://t.co/LsEhqoRq7t
An important message regarding March for Science 2019 - due to timing this year, we will not be able to officially sponsor the event, however we very much encourage participation and use of the PS logo! Take a look: https://t.co/meh6RnbBcp
Tomorrow, take a peek at the broadcast of @theNASciences G. K. Warren Prize, honoring the indomitable Anna K. ("Kay") Behrensmeyer! Join us at 2PM EDT! https://t.co/Kwzc9BlY8A #NASAward #NAS156
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