ITHACA, NY (CortacaToday) — The Museum of the Earth will host an Antarctica Day celebration on Sunday, December 1st. This family-friendly event will highlight the icy wonders of the southernmost continent and celebrate the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, which emphasizes international cooperation in preserving the region.

Visitors will also explore the Museum’s extraordinary Antarctic fossil collection, cared for by the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI). This collection, one of the largest in the world, includes over 35,000 specimens gathered over 40 years by Purdue University professor William Zinsmeister and his students. The fossils, primarily mollusks like clams, snails, and ammonites, also include wood, crustaceans, and bones from fish, penguins, plesiosaurs, and marine mammals. These specimens, dating from the late Cretaceous Period (70 million years ago) to the Eocene Epoch (40 million years ago), provide critical insights into mass extinction and climate change in Antarctica.

Thanks to Wegmans’ sponsorship, admission for the event will be Pay-What-You-Wish, ensuring accessibility for all visitors.

The celebration features engaging presentations by two leading scientists:

  • 11 a.m.: Dr. Matthew Lamanna, Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, will present “Antarctica in the Time of the Dinosaurs.” This talk explores ancient ecosystems on the Antarctic Peninsula during the age of dinosaurs.
  • 1 p.m.: Dr. Peter Washam, glaciologist and oceanographer at Cornell, will discuss “Ice on the Move,” examining how Antarctic ice shelf observations shape our understanding of future sea level rise.

Visitors can also view selected specimens from the renowned Zinsmeister Collection, which has contributed to groundbreaking research on evolution, extinction, and climate change.

Additional family-friendly activities include Antarctic-themed crafts and demonstrations, a short film showcasing Dr. Lamanna’s fieldwork, and a scavenger hunt through the Museum.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Museum of the Earth. Admission is Pay-What-You-Wish, with all activities included. PRI Members attend free.