Our projects focus on a variety of earth science topics including: paleontology, geo-archaeology, and earthquake seismology. B.I.G. participants have spent many hours collecting, preparing and identifying fossil plant and animal specimens from the Williamson County, Illinois area. Some of these extraordinary treasures are displayed and discussed on the Fossil Web Page. Participants also research recent and past earthquakes, study the land and rocks of southern Illinois, and are involved in many more fun and exciting projects like finding lost graves along the Trail of Tears.
The B.I.G. group meets every Monday after school in Parkinson Laboratory on the Southern Illinois University at Carbondale campus. Periodically we take field trips to collect rocks, minerals, data, or fossils related to the current earth science topic being studied.
Pennsylvanian
Fossil Page
(Publication & Presentation)