BOZEMAN – The Museum of the Rockies at Montana State University recently received a three-year grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services exceeding $250,000 for a unique project prioritizing paleontology education. The award is one of the 122 awards presented by IMLS.

The project, “Discover Science! A Paleontology Education Initiative,” will expand the museum’s paleontology education program to reach more Montana residents, enabling the museum to offer a range of educational resources through paleontology galleries and pop-up museum programs statewide.

“With robust research and fieldwork occurring, we want to be able to dig deep with teachers and students as well,” said Chelsea Hogan, the museum’s director of education and public programming. “Capturing a child's passion for dinosaurs at a young age could set them up for a lifetime of love for science. This opportunity to grow our paleontology outreach program will allow us to connect in person and virtually with more teachers and their classes than ever before.”

“Discover Science!” will immerse participants in the scientific process of exploring prehistoric environments reaching as far back as 80 million years.

“STEM inquiry, including paleontology research, is the forerunner of human progress,” said Stephanie Dickson, vice chair of the Museum of the Rockies board of trustees. “Museum of the Rockies’ IMLS-funded ‘Discover Science!’ program will significantly impact the scientific and environmental literacy of citizens of Montana.”

Over three years, the grant will help create and distribute classroom materials, including posters and fossil kits. It will also support teacher stipends, ensuring that educators can attend the museum’s specialized conferences that are designed to enhance professional development and foster a community of educators dedicated to science. The museum also plans to introduce a part-time museum educator position to enhance outreach.

For more information about these initiatives and other programs at the Museum of the Rockies, please visit museumoftherockies.org.