Paleontology Lab at Truman College Helps Students See Themselves as Scientists

Truman College students who are lucky enough to take Geology 201 with Professor Rahm Almarzah, Ph.D. get a one-of-a-kind, hands-on experience working with an extensive collection of fossils. Working with the Field Museum, he has created a rare paleontology lab experience, where students are able to handle specimens from across millennia as they learn about geological time.

“They are familiar with concepts, so the lab gives them the opportunity to manipulate paleontological material. They have all these fossils at their disposal from the Field Museum, so they are able to compare and place them according to the right time period. They are able to look at them, touch them, and describe them,” said Professor Almarzah.

Long interested in paleontology, Almarzah was eager to be able to offer students an opportunity to explore this unique aspect of the physical sciences. Many students who take the class go on to study biology and civil engineering, which involves soil science, and geology. A few have been so inspired by what they learned in his classroom that they have gone on to study paleontology – a notoriously difficult field for women and students of color to break into.

The class also benefits students who are taking oceanography and marine sciences classes, both offered at Truman College. In fact, four Truman College alumni are now studying oceanography and marine biology at the graduate level.

Other higher education institutions are taking note, and some are surprised that a community college has such an exceptional opportunity.

“Many people have preconceived notions about community college, but our students are prepared for the next level of scientific study when they leave Truman College and transfer to four-year universities,” said Almarzah. “We are giving them a taste of what can be.”