R. M. Alf Museum of Paleontology

The Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology is located on the campus of The Webb Schools and has the unique distinction as the only nationally accredited paleontological museum on a high school campus. As such, our high school students are heavily involved in museum programs from public outreach to research. For students in 11th and 12th grade, they can participate in the Advanced Studies in Paleontology class and work alongside our professional paleontologists to conduct actual research using Alf Museum specimens.

Rogers Peccary Scholars are 12th grade students in the Advanced Studies in Paleontology class who have not only completed the full set of science coursework for paleontology at The Webb Schools, but they have also undertaken an original research project in collaboration with the Museum curator, Dr. Mairin Balisi, and/or director, Dr. Andrew Farke. Students are awarded this distinction in honor of their work in making a lasting contribution to scientific knowledge. Students were honored and received their Peccary Society pin during the Annual Peccary Society Dinner on October 24th.

Congrats to our 2025 Rogers Peccary Scholars!

Dr. Andy Farke’s class

• Andres Caballero
• Matthew Jung

Dr. Mairin Balisi’s class

• James Base
• Fionn Graham
• Andrew Huang
• Sophie Lin
• Mandana Mojaverian
• Mikey Pino

Meet our Rogers Peccary Scholars and learn about their research projects in the video below.

The Alf Museum is proud to announce this year’s recipient of the Raymond M. Alf Award for Excellence in Paleontological Research and Education, Dr. Bruce MacFadden. The award, given annually, honors a paleontologist who demonstrates exceptional achievement both in original scientific research, as well as in education and outreach at the primary and secondary school (K-12) levels.

Dr. MacFadden is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus from the University of Florida. He is renowned for his research studying fossil mammals, particularly the evolution of horses, and has researched a range of topics from studying ancient climates to using machine learning to identify shark teeth. His work has taken him across the Americas from Barstow, a field site in the Mojave Desert also long studied by the Alf Museum, to sites in Bolivia and Panama. Dr. MacFadden has more than 200 scientific publications and is the author of two books: Fossil Horses and Broader Impacts of Science on Society.

In addition to his paleontological research, Dr. MacFadden also has a respected career as an educator and education researcher. He has over 15 years of experience working to understand how people learn in museums and how scientists and teachers can better collaborate to teach K-12 students. Involving educators with actual scientific research and field work has been a passion of Dr. MacFadden’s. In 2015, he was visiting scientist in Santa Cruz County schools, where he collaborated with science educators to develop lesson plans for elementary schools that focused on local fossils. He has also developed many opportunities for K-12 educators to participate in paleontological field work and research in places like Florida and Panama. Leading a team of teachers, students, and avocational paleontologists, Dr. MacFadden established The FOSSIL Project, an online community for fossil enthusiasts and professionals to connect about fossils and education.

Through his long career, Dr. Bruce MacFadden has established himself as a leader in the paleontological community and continues to push innovation in both research and education to better connect the two. He has served as president for both the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology and the Paleontological Society and has been recognized with multiple awards and fellowships. The Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology is proud to celebrate Dr. MacFadden’s many achievements with this year’s Alf Award.

The Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology, located on the campus of The Webb Schools in Claremont, California, has once again earned national reaccreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM)—the highest recognition afforded to museums in the United States. 

Accreditation signifies excellence across all areas of museum operations and a deep commitment to public trust, educational value, and stewardship of collections. Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, only about 1,100 are currently accredited. The Alf Museum remains the only nationally accredited paleontology museum in the U.S. located on a high school campus, serving both public visitors and as a hands-on learning laboratory for Webb students. 

“We are incredibly proud to receive reaccreditation from AAM,” said Dr. Andrew Farke, Director of the Alf Museum. “This recognition affirms the quality of our programs, the care and significance of our fossil collections, and our commitment to education and scientific discovery. It is also a testament to the dedication of our staff and our vibrant community of student scientists.” 

The Alf Museum, named for legendary educator and paleontologist Raymond M. Alf, houses more than 190,000 fossil specimens and leads student-involved field research across the western United States. Through its collections, exhibitions, and research, the museum inspires curiosity and a deeper understanding of Earth’s history. 

“Reaccreditation reflects our continued pursuit of excellence,” said Theresa Smith, Head of The Webb Schools. “The Alf Museum is a remarkable asset to both Webb and the broader scientific and educational communities.” 

The reaccreditation process is a rigorous, multiyear review that evaluates a museum’s governance, collections stewardship, education, public service, financial sustainability, and overall alignment with professional standards. AAM accreditation is widely recognized as a mark of distinction in the museum field. 

Support and celebrate the Alf Museum, at the 33rd Annual Peccary Society Dinner on Friday, October 24! The reception starts at 5:30 pm on the Alf Museum steps, and we will move to the tent for the dinner.

This is a ticketed event, with advance reservation required. For information on sponsorship or tickets, visit the event website. If you have any questions about tickets or sponsorships, please get in touch with Kimberly Grant, Director of Development, at (909) 482-5267 or kgrant@webb.org.

Items on the program will include:

• New fossil discoveries from this summer’s Peccary trip to Wyoming
• Research highlights from Webb students, with the introduction of the 2025 Rogers Peccary Scholars
• An exciting announcement about our national accreditation
• Presentation of the Raymond M. Alf Excellence in Paleontological Research & Education Award
• And more!

Dr. Frederick A. Sundberg, a paleontologist and retired high school science teacher from Arizona, was selected as the 2024 Raymond M. Alf Award for Excellence in Paleontological Research and Education. The award honors a paleontologist who demonstrates exceptional achievement both in original scientific research, as well as in education and outreach at the primary and secondary school (K-12) levels.

A lifelong fossil lover, Dr. Sundberg began collecting fossils in the 4th grade, which ignited a passion for studying trilobites. This passion eventually led to him studying geology at California State University, Fullerton. A class trip to the Alf Museum, which happened to be his first visit to the museum a little over 50 years ago, had a “significant impression” on him.

Dr. Sundberg continued his studies of trilobites through his Masters and PhD working at fossil sites in California, Utah, and Nevada. After receiving his PhD, he eventually found a position teaching high school science in Arizona, which began his long, celebrated career providing students with first-hand research experience.

“I could not find a job that allowed me to focus on paleontology like I hoped,” Dr. Sundberg recounted in his acceptance speech. “I had to refocus my hopes and dreams, so I started teaching!” Not only did he involve his high school students in a variety of research projects and scientific opportunities outside the classroom, but he also published more than 28 peer reviewed scientific papers during this stretch (with a career total of more than 75).

Throughout his tenure, he also established international collaborations with students in China and Mexico, leading to multiple international collaborative studies. Dr. Sundberg’s expertise and contributions to our understanding of trilobites are well-renowned in the field of invertebrate paleontology and are only exceeded by his passion and dedication to training future generations of paleontologists.

Dr. Frederick Sunberg with students and colleagues in Sonora, Mexico. Photo courtesy of Dr. Sundberg.

“Dr. Sundberg shows the creativity and expertise represented by the Alf Award. It is inspirational to learn how he has made such an impact on the study of trilobites, in addition to his impact on students in his local community and around the world,” said Alf Museum director Dr. Andy Farke.

Dr. Sundberg was recognized at this year’s Annual Peccary Society Dinner on October 18. Click here to watch his acceptance speech online.

The Alf Museum’s Collections Manager, Bailey Jorgensen, and Lab Manager, Jared Heuck, both received project grants from professional societies last fall to fund collaborative research projects. Jorgensen received Outreach and Education grants from both the Paleontological Society and the Society for Vertebrate Paleontology, and Heuck was selected for the Marvin and Beth Hix Preparator’s Grant from the Society of Vertebrate paleontology.

Jorgensen’s grants will be used to fund her “Paleo-robotics” project, where she plans to use an underwater ROV to identify and digitally prospect underwater fossil localities in California while also teaching students of The Webb Schools the latest in digital paleontological techniques.

“The goal of this project is to develop a paleontological field experience in tandem with the Paleontology Program and the Robotics After-School Program at The Webb Schools. The students, under supervision, will build and deploy a small shallow water ROV with camera capabilities to do digital prospecting of the underwater environment at local California lakes, where previous research has identified now-submerged localities containing fossils,” commented Jorgensen. “This project is exciting because it is interdisciplinary and gives both robotics and paleontology students the opportunity to collaborate and try something new.”

Jorgensen started at the Alf Museum in 2017 as an outreach and collections assistant and was promoted to Collections Manager in 2022. In her time at the Alf Museum, she was been essential ensuring that our collections are cared for with the latest museum standards while also working with Webb students across many projects. For the “Paleo-robotics” project, Jorgensen is collaborating with the Alf Museum’s curator, Dr. Mairin Balisi, and Webb faculty, Maria Suarez and Andrew Hamilton, as part of Webb’s “Unbounded Days” program that connects the classroom and the broader world. Work has started on construction of the underwater ROV. Jorgensen and team plan to begin their first phase of underwater prospecting in the San Jacinto Valley in late Winter 2024.

For Heuck, the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology’s Marvin and Beth Hix Grant is intended to further the field of vertebrate paleontology through the advancement of fossil preparation. As Lab Manager, Heuck mentors many students from The Webb Schools in fossil preparation through the Paleontology After-School Program and is often a collaborator on student projects. Funds from the Hix grant were used to further the project of Webb senior, Connor Keeney, who is studying Pleistocene-aged insects preserved in asphalt with Dr. Mairin Balisi as part of the Advanced Studies in Paleontology class. Both Heuck and Keeney are interested in learning how to better prepare such insects. With the Hix grant funds, both spent a week working with scientists at the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum to learn from their scientists how to prepare specimens preserved in asphalt.

On the importance of this project, Heuck says “Insects are excellent indicators of climate and environment, but the process of preparing insects preserved in asphalt is largely unexplored. Preparing and identifying the asphaltic insects at the Alf Museum will illuminate the climate trends that existed during a dynamic period of faunal change in Southern California.”

Heuck started at the Alf Museum as a volunteer in 2015, hired as a full-time fossil preparator in 2018, and promoted to Preparation Lab Manager in 2023. Heuck is also active in supporting other student projects in the museum and across Webb’s campus, including work with the Webb Native Plant Society.

A new study from Alf Museum Augustyn Family Curator, Dr. Mairin Balisi, suggests that ice age saber-toothed cats and dire wolves experienced a high incidence of bone disease in their joints.

The open access paper – “Subchondral defects resembling osteochondrosis dissecans in joint surfaces of the extinct saber-toothed cat Smilodon fatalis and dire wolf Aenocyon dirus” – was published July 12 in PLOS ONE.

Dr. Mairin Balisi, an expert in mammalian carnivores who joined the Alf Museum as the Augustyn Family Curator last year, is a co-author on the study with lead author, Dr. Hugo Schmökel of Evidensia Academy, Sweden, and Aisling Farrell, collections manager at the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum.

“This study adds to the growing literature on Smilodon and dire wolf paleopathology, made possible by the unparalleled large sample sizes at the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum,” says Alf Museum Augustyn Family Curator of Paleontology and La Brea Tar Pits Research Associate, study co-author Dr. Mairin Balisi. “This collaboration between paleontologists and veterinarians confirms that these animals, though they were large predators that lived through tough times and are now extinct, shared common ailments with the cats and dogs in our very homes today.”

Osteochondrosis is a developmental bone disease known to affect the joints of vertebrates, including humans and various domesticated species. However, the disease is not documented thoroughly in wild species, and published cases are quite rare. In this study, Schmökel and colleagues identify signs of this disease in fossil limb bones of Ice Age saber-toothed cats (Smilodon fatalis) and dire wolves (Aenocyon dirus) from around 55,000 to 12,000 years ago.

Researchers examined over 1,000 limb bones of saber-toothed cats and over 500 limb bones of dire wolves from the Late Pleistocene La Brea Tar Pits, finding small defects in many bones consistent with a specific manifestation of bone disease called osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD). These defects were mainly seen in shoulder and knee joints, with an incidence as high as 7% of the examined bones, significantly higher than that observed in modern species.

This study is limited to isolated bones from a single fossil locality, so further study on other fossil sites might reveal patterns in the prevalence of this disease, and from there might shed light on aspects of these animals’ lives. It remains unclear, for example, whether these joint problems would have hindered the hunting abilities of these predators. Furthermore, OCD is commonly seen in modern domestic dogs which are highly inbred, so it’s possible that the high incidence of the disease in these fossil animals could be a sign of dwindling populations as these ancient species approached extinction.

Read the full publication here.

Gabriel-Philip Santos, the Alf Museum’s director of visitor engagement and education, has been honored for his exceptional service to the field of paleontology with the 2022 John and Mary Lou Pojeta Award.

Santos accepted the award, conferred by The Paleontological Society, at the Geological Society of America Connects 2022 gathering held October 9-12 in Denver.

This national-level award was created in 2014 to recognize “exceptional professional or public service, by individuals or groups … above and beyond that of existing formal roles or responsibilities.”

Santos, along with frequent collaborator Brittney Stoneburg, collections manager of the Western Science Center, was recognized for bringing paleontology into new venues through efforts such as Fossil Friday Chats and Cosplay for Science.

“These innovative programs have reached thousands throughout Southern California, nationally and globally and continue to put the Alf Museum on the map,” Alf Museum Director Dr. Andy Farke said. “The recognition from The Paleontological Society, one of the major organizations for our profession, shows the respect that Gabe has earned within our scientific and educational communities.”

Santos, who has been with the Alf Museum since 2015, was promoted to his current post earlier this year. He previously served as both outreach coordinator and collections manager. Santos holds a Master of Science in geological sciences from Cal State Fullerton.

“This was an incredible honor,” Santos said. “When I first started in paleontology I didn’t know if I belonged in this field because I couldn’t see anyone like me in it. It was hard work forging my path, but now to be recognized by the community, I know that I made my place here and I hope I can show others like me they belong here, too.”

In 2021, Santos was named a 2021 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow by National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions for his work as an informal science educator, including using cosplay and pop-up museums to engage diverse communities.

Natural history museums are places for everyone to discover more about this amazing world we all share, but cost of admission can be a barrier for many in our community. That’s why the Alf Museum is proud to announce our participation in the Museums for All initiative!

The Museums for All initiative is available to all receiving SNAP EBT benefits. Simply present your SNAP EBT at the museum to receive free admission for up to four family members per card. Museums for All admission is available during all normal museum hours.

Museums for All helps expand access to museums and also raise public awareness about how museums in the U.S. are reaching their entire communities. More than 850 institutions participate in the initiative, including art museums, children’s museums, science centers, botanical gardens, zoos, history museums, and more. Participating museums are located nationwide, representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Virgin Islands. It was created by

“A key part of our mission at the Alf Museum is to bring the wonders of paleontology – which is really the story of life on Earth – to as many members of our community as possible,” said Dr. Andy Farke, director of the Alf Museum. “Museums for All is the perfect companion program to our school and community science outreach programs.”

With the Museums for All initiative, we want to welcome everyone to enjoy a trip through time and share in discovering the amazing story of life on Earth.

For more information, please visit museums4all.org.

A new study from the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology and collaborator institutions shows that cougars in the deserts of southern California and Arizona are hunting feral donkeys, filling a niche once held by dire wolves and sabertoothed cats.

The paper – “A novel trophic cascade between cougars and feral donkeys shapes desert wetlands” – was published July 24 by the Journal of Animal Ecology and featured in the blog Animal Ecology in Focus.

Dr. Mairin Balisi, an expert in mammalian carnivores who joined the Alf Museum as the Augustyn Family Curator on July 1, is among an international team of 11 authors on the study, which is led by Dr. Erick Lundgren, a postdoctoral researcher at Aarhus University in Denmark.

The paper tracks a modern-day shift in predator-prey ecology that echoes relationships that existed during the late Pleistocene, or the last ice age, which ended about 12,000 years ago. In the Pleistocene, saber-toothed cats and dire wolves hunted horse species that then inhabited North and South America, including California. Cougars were present, but not thought to have hunted megafauna such as horses. Habitat disruptions – including human impacts – led to the extinction of both the prey and predators. The cougar, or mountain lion Puma concolor, is the only big cat still inhabiting California – famously represented by P-22, the mountain lion living in Griffith Park in Los Angeles – but it is dwarfed by the extinct big cats of the Pleistocene.

Today, introduced horses and donkeys once again roam the wilds – leading to concerns that without natural predators they would harm fragile desert ecosystems. Instead, the study showed that cougars are stepping into the role of the extinct predators and creating a new ecological balance.

The paper tracked areas in Death Valley National Park where feral donkeys are hunted by cougars and areas where they are free from predation. The study showed cougars not only limit donkey population growth, but also impact donkey populations indirectly. Donkeys hunted by cougars are not active at night and far less active during the day. As a result, donkeys regulated by cougar predation cause far fewer disruptions to ecosystems.

Sites without predation have numerous trails, very little vegetative cover and huge areas of trampled bare ground.

“However, if you go just a few kilometers away to wetlands where mountain lions are hunting donkeys, wetlands are lush with untouched vegetation, have only one or two donkey trails, and limited trampling,” Lundgren said. “The differences between wetlands with and without mountain lion predation are remarkable and are even visible from satellite imagery.”

“This collaboration between paleontologists and wildlife biologists enables us to take a deeper-time perspective than most ecological studies,” Balisi said. “Our study has documented what appears to be a novel phenomenon – mountain lions hunting feral donkeys – but the fossil record shows us that, while the characters are relatively new, the roles that they play are as old as time.

“Extinct ecosystems can provide context for modern day, in this case enhancing our understanding of predator-prey relationships. This study illustrates paleontology’s relevance to practical questions of broad stakeholder interest, like conservation and land management.”

Learn more the Dr. Erick Lundgren’s work online.