Flight. Insects, pterosaurs, birds, bats, and even the seeds and pollen of plants all enjoyed the advantages and the perils of flight long before humans were around to envy them. Our 2015 Founders Symposium, Fossils & Flight, explores what the fossil record reveals about how life conquered the skies.The Western Interior Paleontological Society (WIPS) Founders Symposium brings scientists, fossil lovers and artists together every other year. First held in 1999, it was organized to promote the exchange of information and ideas between the avocational and professional paleontological communities. Proceeds from our Founders Symposium are the primary source of funding for WIPS grants and scholarships programs, which benefit researchers and students in the field of paleontology. The 2015 program will include:
- Over a dozen speakers with presentations on flying fish, swimming birds, airborne dinosaurs, the flight of dragons, and more!
- Half-day workshops on Pikes Peak fossils and using the many paleontology resources on the web
- Field trips to nearby Dinosaur Ridge and Triceratops Trail, and to the Steps in Stone exhibit at the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History
- Poster session and exhibits on view all weekend
- PaleoArt Show — a fabulous gallery of paleontological-themed art featuring over 30 local and regional artists