This past Monday, Bruce McFadden, principal investigator of the PCP PIRE program, arrived with a group of 10 middle school and high school teachers –  participants in the GABI RET program. Together with Jorge Moreno and the PCP PIRE interns, they will be exploring fossil localities throughout Panama, learning about science – not as a collection of facts, but as science in action.

The first site to be visited was the locality of Alajuela, a lake in Chagres National Park, an hour from Panama City.

Scott, of the GABI RET program, finds the first fossil of the day – a megaladon tooth!

Fragments of a fossil turtle, in place, shown with scale.

PCP PIRE intern Evan and supervisor Jorge explain to the GABI-RET participants how to create and prepare a plaster jacket.

Walking along the shore

Megan of the GABI RET program.

Evan Whiting, PCP PIRE intern, prepares the fossil turtle for a plaster jacket.

Close up of fossilized lemon shark tooth.

Honey, of the GABI RET program, displays a newly excavated shark tooth.

Bruce McFadden, director of the GABI RET program, introduces participants to Lake Alajuela

Wesley von Dassow, PCP PIRE intern, demonstrates the dip (tilt) of the beds (horizontal layers of rock).

PCP PIRE intern Robyn Henderek finds the second fossil of the day – a lemon shark tooth!

Laura, of the GABI RET program, searches for fossils along the shores of Lake Alajuela.

Walking through the tall grass

Jason of the GABI RET program examines the stratigraphy along the shores of Lake Alajuela.