Dinosaurs are roaming the earth again right here at UND, and they were spotted by Dr. Paul Ullman, Dr. Kristyn Voegele, and their research team. They brought back a duck-billed dinosaur called an Edmontosaurus and a Triceratops. 

Sadly, there are no dinosaurs roaming the campus of UND, though the idea is exciting. The teams found bones in Montana and brought them here in October of 2023. However, they could still use help with preparing the fossils of these dinosaurs. This would include cleaning and stabilizing the fossil. When you help them prepare the fossils, you would be using tools like a toothbrush to push off any loose dust or settlement. However, there is sand or debris that is caked on hard to the fossils, which you would be using tools like an X-ACTO knife or a scaler. A scaler is something that would normally be a tool used by dentist to scrape the plaque off your teeth, but for the fossils, it is to gently scrape away the caked on sand or debris.  

Although they did not find the whole body of a Triceratops or Edmontosaurus, they found a portion of the frill on the triceratops; it is the portion that extends up on the back of the head. The frill is also a part of our anatomy and bone structure. The Edmontosaurus is a bit more of a jigsaw puzzle, which is the main reason they need students’ help. However, since they brought it back and have been getting help from the community, they have been able to complete two tail vertebrae as well as a complete tibia. They have 25 bones to be put back together. Dr. Ullman said, “anything better then two bones are a wonderful find.”  

They have had over 130 people come in and help them, including some of the farthest being from Bismark and Bemidji. Anyone can help with this amazing and real-life jigsaw puzzle. From 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays or Thursdays from now until May 9, you could help out. You need no prior experience as the team will help you until you get the hang of it. You can go to the UND’s event Calander and click on the student involvement tab and click on the next available fossil prep session and sign up. You will not regret signing up; it is a blast and a once in a lifetime experience working with real dinosaur fossils.  

Zoe Booth is a Dakota Student General Reporter. She can be reached at zoe.booth@und.edu