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LAS VEGAS -- Local residents and visitors can catch a rare glimpse of geologic history in the Las Vegas Valley on Friday.  Thanks to a "geoscience summit" at Shadow Ridge High School, the public can attend a free, daylong event aimed at promoting what organizers call "science in our own backyard."

The day includes guided tours through the renowned Tule Springs site that scientists consider a treasure chest of ancient animal remains. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the site is a rich source of fossils providing valuable scientific information about the valley's past.  

During the first major excavation of Tule Springs begun in 1962 -- now called the "big dig" -- scientists found camel, mammoth and bison fossils in the cavernous trenches created by land-moving equipment. Some of these fossils will be on display at the Shadow Ridge summit. Several artifacts were also found, although it is still uncertain if they were associated with extinct animals. These, too, will be on display.

Researchers continue to unearth similar finds, and more recently discovered fossils not seen before in the valley.  These fossils from frogs, a grasshopper mouse, whipsnakes and other animals, tell scientists the valley was probably much wetter thousands of years ago.

About 300 feet east of Shadow Ridge, the "big dig" site has become the centerpiece of the high school's Geoscience Education Project, which is funded by the National Science Foundation in collaboration with Desert Research Institute, UNLV and Nevada Power Co.

As part of the course of study, the project incorporates authentic research at the Tule Springs archaeological and paleontological site. The program resulted in initiation of the first earth-science honors class in the Clark County School District and involves about 165 ninth-grade students each semester. 

Called "Tule Springs: Then and Now," the summit kicks off at 7 a.m. with an introduction of the people behind the geoscience project and an explanation of how it works. A member of the 1962 "big dig" then will share his memories of the expedition and the ancient treasures found.

Shadow Ridge students, their teacher, researchers from DRI and UNLV, staff from California's San Bernardino County Museum -- where many of the artifacts are housed -- and others will make presentations. They will talk about the deposits at the dig, the record of Ice Age life there and answer the question, "Who killed the mammoths of Tule Springs?"

Walking tours of "Trench K" at the Tule Springs dig begin at noon and run through 1:20 p.m. After a 90-minute break, more guided tours run between from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The summit concludes with a lecture by DRI's Dr. Paul Buck on "The Meaning of Tule Springs for Pleistocene Extinctions."

"While the day will certainly be of interest to science buffs, we're keeping the focus on what's been found at Tule Springs and why it's important to Nevada. The summit is aimed at encouraging the public to appreciate science in our own backyard, and we promise to keep the technical jargon at a minimum," Buck said.

According to Buck, the public is encouraged to attend any or all of the planned events during the day.

Shadow Ridge High school is at 5050 Brent Lane. From downtown Las Vegas, take highway 95 north toward Tonopah. Take the exit for I-215 east (The Beltway) a few miles until Decatur. Turn left (north) on Decatur and go past the water treatment plant until Brent Lane. Left on Brent Lane to the high school. Events will take place in the auditorium, which is found at the first set of doors on the right past the school's main entrance. For more information, go to http://conferences.dri.edu/geoscience.pdf or call 702-799-6699 ext. 4100.

About DRI

A nonprofit, statewide division of the University and Community College System of Nevada, DRI pursues a full-time program of basic and applied environmental research on a local, national and international scale. More than 500 full- and part-time scientists, technicians and support staff conduct more than 300 research projects at DRI annually.  DRI generates $45 million in total revenue consisting predominately of competitively won research contracts and grants.

The State of Nevada provides critical funding in support of DRI's administration, operations and maintenance, through the University and Community College System of Nevada budget. While DRI's portion of the UCCSN budget is less than 1 percent, the institute leverages these funds to enhance its competitiveness.