Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems Conference Brings Ancient Worlds to Salt Lake City

SALT LAKE CITY (June 1, 2023) —The Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems Conference, an internationally acclaimed event, is being held in Salt Lake City on June 8 -10 at the Department of Natural Resources building at 1594 W. North Temple. This highly anticipated gathering will bring together leading paleontological experts, researchers, and scientists from around the globe to delve into the mysteries of Earth’s prehistoric past.

The Mesozoic era, which spanned from approximately 252 to 66 million years ago, is renowned for its incredible diversity of flora and fauna, including the awe-inspiring dinosaurs. The conference aims to illuminate the intricate web of life that thrived during this time and explore the complex ecosystems that shaped our planet’s history through presentations, field trips, and discussions.

Utah contains one of Earth’s most complete fossil records, almost two billion years. Dinosaur paleontology is a very active area of scientific research, and every year over 20 scientific papers are published on dinosaur fossils in Utah. The amount of information available about the biology of dinosaurs increases every day. Dinosaur fossils from Utah play a significant role in much of this new information, and over the past 30 years, has gone from a relatively small number of dinosaur species known from just a few geological formations to well over 100 species from numerous formations.

“The unique conference hosts leading paleontologists from around the world and is the first time the event has been held in the United States,” said Utah State Paleontologist Dr. James Kirkland. “We are excited to host this event and to have an opportunity to showcase Utah’s fossil resources to the world.”

Organized by the Utah Geological Survey, in partnership with Utah Friends of Paleontology, the Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems Conference promises a rich program of scientific presentations, discussions, and workshops. Attendees will be able to immerse themselves in the latest discoveries, breakthrough research, and interdisciplinary studies focused on the Mesozoic era.

For conference information, visit https://utahpaleo.org/mte14/. For information on the Utah Geological Survey, visit geology.utah.gov.