Becky Barnes

Medium

Paleontologist, Lab Manager

(701) 328-1954
600 East Boulevard
Bismarck, ND 58505-0840
ndgspaleo@nd.gov

Job Description

Becky splits her time between field work, lab work, and outreach. As lab manager, she heads the volunteering program for fossil preparation.  If the project includes fossil preparation, molding, casting, painting, sculpting, illustration, or taxidermy, Becky is probably involved.

Education

2007: M.S. Biology, North Dakota State University
2004: B.S. Biology, Concordia College

Publications

Barnes, B., and Boyd, C.A., 2022.  Small Exhibits, Big Impact.  Geo News 49(2):16-18.

Drumheller, S.K., Boyd, C.A., Barnes, B.M.S., and Householder, M.L. 2022. Biostratinomic alterations of an Edmontosaurus “mummy” reveal a pathway for soft tissue preservation without invoking “exceptional conditions.” PLoS ONE. 17(10):e0275240. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.o275240

Barnes, B., 2020.  Paleontology at a Distance.  Geo News 47(2):4-5.

Barnes, B., 2020.  PrehiStories: Dakota the Dinomummy.  North Dakota Geological Survey Educational Series #37.

Barnes, B., 2020.  PrehiStories: Mosasaur.  North Dakota Geological Survey Educational Series #36.

Barnes, B., 2020.  Ichnology: Dinosaur Tracks.  Geo News 47(1):9-11.

Barnes, B., Boyd, C.A., Person, J.J., 2018.  Paleo Primer 2: North Dakota's Cretaceous Underwater World.  North Dakota Geological Survey Educational Series #35.

Person, J.J., and B. Barnes.  2018.  New Plesiosaur Exhibit at Heritage Center State Museum.  Geo News 45(2):1-4.

Boyd, C.A., Person, J.J., Barnes, B., 2017.  Additions to the Lancian Mammalian Fauna from southwest North Dakota.  Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2017.1325368

Barnes, B., Boyd, C.A., Person, J.J., 2017.  Paleo Primer: An Introduction to Paleontology Concepts.  North Dakota Geological Survey Educational Series #33.

Barnes, B. 2017.  Fossils Behind Fossil Pokemon.  Geo News 44(2):28-29.

Boyd, C.A., J.J. Person, and B. Barnes. 2016. New Additions To The Lancian Mammalian Fauna From Southwest North Dakota, Poster.

Barnes, B., 2015. Paleontology Lab – Then and Now. Geo News 42(2):20-21.

Hoganson, J.W., J.J. Person, and B. Barnes. 2014. The New Adaptation Gallery: Geologic Time at the ND Heritage Center. Geo News 41(2):1-7.

Barnes, B., A.Ashworth, R. Nellermoe, 2011. Determining Individual Edmontosaurus from a Disarticulated Bone Bed Using Principal Components Analysis. Hadrosaur Symposium, Drumheller, AB.

Hoganson, John W.; Gould, Becky, 2011. Prehistoric Life of North Dakota Coloring and Activity Book. North Dakota Geological Survey Educational Series 32.

Mink, Rebecca M. S. 2007. The Hadrosaurid Genus Edmontosaurus From The Cretaceous Hell Creek Formation Of South Dakota. Masters Thesis, North Dakota State University.

Public Outreach & Available Presentations

  • Chatting with NDGS Paleo - virtual science hour, archived on YouTube
  • Fossils In North Dakota (FIND) Newsletter – Quarterly newsletter for kids with sections on Feature Fossils, Travel Destinations, and more.
  • Fossils There To Here (powerpoint – all ages) A look at how fossils get from the field, to the lab, to exhibits.
  • Heroes of Paleontology (powerpoint – youth) A history of paleontology, using caricatures of famous paleontologists, with an emphasis on books and reading.
  • Pterosaurs, Birds & Bats: Things With Wings (powerpoint – all ages) Flight in vertebrates.
  • What Is A Dinosaur? (powerpoint & activity – youth) What makes a dinosaur a dinosaur? How big were they?
  • Paleontology Meets A Paintbrush: Where Art and History Collide (powerpoint – all ages) A behind the scenes breakdown of what went in to the art and exhibits of the current Adaptation Gallery: Geologic Time.
  • Fossils In North Dakota (powerpoint – all ages) An in depth look at fossils found across North Dakota.
  • Prehistoric North Dakota (powerpoint – youth) A shorter version of Fossils In North Dakota for younger audiences.
  • Skin, Scales, Feathers & Fur (powerpoint – all ages) How do we know what some extinct creatures looked like? If we’re lucky, we find their skin…
  • Prehistoric Fishing Trip (activity – youth) Fish the prehistoric seas with a time-traveling excursion. Catch life-sized animals, and see how large some of the BIG creatures really were.
  • Fossil Show-And-Tell (hands-on – youth) View and touch fossils from around the world. Learn more about what types of things turn into fossils, and what they can tell us.
  • How Big WERE They?! (activity – youth) Using life-sized silhouettes, audience members join in to create a living model of how large prehistoric creatures were.