The annual Science Teacher Workshop was conducted by the University of West Alabama, and the Geological Survey of Alabama.  Volunteer assistance was provided by members of BPS.

The "Fossils of Alabama" exhibit was in the Ellenburg Art Gallery at the Homewood Library during the month of July.  On Sunday, July 28, BPS hosted an open house for the community.  It was a big hit with kids of all ages, who had the opportunity to get up close and personal with fossils, and dig for their own fossils in the sand pit.

After a morning spent collecting in the HOT gullies, we cooled off at lunch in a torrential downpour.  Luckily the weather cleared up in time for collecting in a nearby creek, which was delayed a bit while we had to find the access road under all the kudzu!  Yes, it's taking over Alabama!

This trip is always popular in spite of the distance.  It's always well worth the drive, and again this year, a number of fossils in very good condition were found.

This month's "field trip" was to the garage of James Lamb, paleontologist at the University of West Alabama.  He presented a hands-on workshop on how to forge your own tools of the correct firmness, hardness, and resiliency.  A forge was set up, and various metals including springs were cut to size to make specialty tools.  Members also brought store bought chisels and and other tools to temper them so they would last and work properly in the field.  It was quite interesting learning to determine temperature and hardness based on the color of the hot metal.  Members also had the opportunity to make their own screen for finding all those shark teeth hiding in the creeks!  This workshop was a follow-up to the March program, titled "Paleontology on a Budget: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap".

The Birmingham Paleontological Society participated in the Fossil Road Show, presented yearly by the Mississippi Museum of Natural History in Jackson.  It was a very well attended event, and members spent the day telling visitors about the Alabama fossils on our exhibit tables, and visiting other tables to enjoy the fossil show.

This trip we had quite a few friendly faces show up to enjoy the beautiful day, the scenery and of course help find fossils. Some of the items we found included; brachiopods, crinoid stems, trilobite parts, worm burrows and some interesting rocks that could not be identified. Wish we had more time to explore this site, as its treasures were well hidden.