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Tag: VIPS

A Summer of VicPS

The monthly VicPS meetings are on summer hiatus and the focus is on fieldtrips, public education, and the Symposium.

June 15 – Field Trip, TBD (Lead: Corbin Rolfe)

Join Corbin Rolfe as he leads his first official VicPS fieldtrip!  Please look for an email from Corbin with details of the trip, closer to the date.

June 22 – PUBLIC EDUCATION:  Cowichan Valley Nature Kids (lead:  Jerri Wilkins)

VicPS has been invited back for a second year to provide a ‘fossil field day’ for kids in the Cowichan Valley. Last year our volunteers had a blast introducing kids to the ancient marine life on Mt. Tzouhalem in Duncan. If you like participating in public education, Jerri will reach out closer to the date seeking volunteers. No experience necessary – we all learn by doing!  

July 20 –  Field Trip (lead:  Jerri Wilkins)

We’ll visit one of the most beautiful and productive sites on our annual field trip schedule, and one Jerri looks forward to visiting every year.  It’s a moderate walk and a good site for families, and for swimming (sometimes on purpose). Look for the invite closer to the date.

July 24 – PUBLIC EDUCATION: Island View and You (lead: Carol Barbon)

This is our annual opportunity to join the Capital Regional District and nature-based organizations for a day of public education focused on the past and present animals and ecosystems of Island View Beach (Cowichan Head) on the Saanich Peninsula. Closer to the date Carol will be looking for volunteers to hang out at Island View Beach for the day….tough job! If you attended the May 18th fieldtrip, this is your opportunity to test your memory by sharing knowledge with others.  Jerri know who you are… we will be in touch!

August 10 – Field Trip (lead:  Jerri Wilkins)

This site on the shore is easily accessible, and for those with patience and a good eye, it can reveal well-preserved gastropods and occasionally an ammonite.  Details will be provided in a fieldtrip guide closer to the date.

 August 21 – PUBLIC EDUCATION: Slithery, Slimy & Scaly (lead:  Carol Barbon)

For this event, we join the Capital Regional District and nature-based organizations at Elk/Beaver Lake to talk about all things slithery, slimy and scaly. VicPS brings a new perspective to this annual event, exploring with kids why we don’t see snakes and frogs and lizards in the local fossil record.  Or do we? Volunteer to help Carol, and you’ll learn the answers. She will reach out for volunteers closer to the date.

August 21-24 – BCPA-VIPS Paleontological Symposium 2025

This bi-annual meeting of paleontological researchers is four days of all things paleo as it relates to Vancouver Island and BC.  Presentations on the latest scientific research, scientific posters, workshops and fieldtrips and lots of like-minded professionals and enthusiasts to meet.  Check out the details below, and sign up today:

15th BC Paleontological Symposium 2025 v2 – Vancouver Island Paleontological Society

Register for 15th BC Paleontological Symposium 2025, August 22 – 25

The 15th British Columbia Paleontological Symposium will be held at the Florence Filberg Centre, August 22nd to 25th, 2025 in Courtenay, BC. The British Columbia Paleontological Alliance meets every two years to hold a symposium. This year the Vancouver Island Paleontological Society will host this symposium. The symposium will be supported by the Courtenay and District Museum. Please mark these dates on your calendar, and register here:

Register at eventbrite for
the
15th BC Paleontological Symposium 2025
Keynote Speaker: Kirk Johnson

The Weird & Wonderful: Lessons from the Cambrian with Joe Moysiuk

Joe Moysiuk is a paleontologist and evolutionary biologist at the Royal Ontario Museum & University of Toronto.

“Joe Moysiuk’s ongoing research of the many exciting fossils from the Burgess Shale has opened up and transformed our view of the Cambrian.” 

— Fossil Huntress

As part of the 2022 Vancouver Island Paelontological Society lecture series we are excited to invite you to this upcoming Zoom presentation.

This Sunday, September 25th 1:00 pm PST

You may find more info here http://fossiltalksandfieldtrips.com/index.html, and read backgrounder for Joe Moysiuk. Then link to the VIPS Zoom talk on the day of the presentation. Or simply use the VIPS meeting connection details below.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9965270007?pwd=WFl6OXB2cTJJU0QyN2NETWRnUzQrdz09&fbclid=IwAR235akSoloeHTuGgMGhevDy971FGb7Nn09sTZKOGzDqqyLs76-UHnsZPxw

Meeting ID: 996 527 0007

Passcode: 10Bb14

VIPS Thin Section workshop at NIC: January 11, 2020

The Vancouver Island Palaeontological Society are holding the VIPS and North Island College thin section workshop on Saturday, January 11th. This link gives you an idea of the process and tools involved.

Randal Mindell, research scientist and paleo-botanist will lead the thin section workshop. Lucas Evans, the NIC lab technician, will provide the facilities and be our host. The NIC lab will accommodate up to 15 people, so prior registration is advised.

The workshop will start at 10:00 am and go until 3:30 pm with a lunch break. Bring your best fossil wood specimen.

Here is the day’s schedule: 

  1. Randal will do a Power Point presentation covering the general procedure of the thin section process.
  2. You will use the specimen of fossil wood you brought and cut it with the rock saw to create the clean surface for the thin section.
  3. Once the fossil is cut and the new surface exposed, Randal will assist in the preparation and the grinding or polishing process.
  4. Preparation of the thin section with the acetate peel will be completed and ready for viewing under the microscope.
  5. Viewing of the actual fossil wood cells of the should be amazing.
  6. Determining the genus of the fossil wood by review and comparison to the record may be possible.
  • Where: – North Island College- 2300 Ryan Road Courtenay, Raven building, near the front entrance, upstairs in the NIC Lab .
  • When: – 10:00-3:30? Saturday January 11th, 2020 ( Bring a lunch or go to the NIC cafeteria)
  • Workshop Cost: – $20   (all materials supplied)
  • Contact Betty Franklin for registration using cheque or e-transfer at beetlejean@gmail.com