Earth Sciences
The University of Alaska Museum Earth Sciences collection (UAMES) focuses on Alaskan fossils. It is the world's largest collection of arctic dinosaurs and one of the largest collection of Alaskan Quaternary Mammals.
- Collection policies (acquisitions, loans, visitation)
- Learn more about Alaskan fossil vertebrates
- List of publications using the UAMES collection
- Resources about fossils in Alaska can be found under Links
- For media and general public inquiries, contact the curator Dr. Pat Druckenmiller
Databasing and digitization of the UAMES collection is in progress, under support from an NSF’s biological research collections program grant. More than 30,000 specimens have already been databased. Our entire vertebrate fossil collection is now available online in the Arctos Database.
Search for fossil specimens on
Prospective students
Information can be found within the UAF Geosciences department webpage.
Courses taught by Pat Druckenmiller:
- GEOS 106 - Life in the Age of Dinosaurs
co-taught with Sarah Fowell.
- GEOS/BIOL 486/686 - Vertebrate Paleontology
- GEOS 317 - Paleontological Research and Laboratory Methods
Museum Research Apprenticeship program (MRAP)
Opportunities to participate in collections-based activities are available for volunteers, and students can take credits through the .
Otto William Geist Fellowship
The Geist Fund supports scholarship or fellowship grants for students in archaeology
or paleontology and is available to undergraduate and graduate students of the University
of Alaska Fairbanks.
More information, application procedures and deadlines can be found here.