Fossil record of New Brunswick to shed new light on early vertebrate evolution

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Paleontology has an almost unparalleled ability to elicit interest and curiosity in people of all ages. Early engagement in paleontology via museums ignites passion for the natural sciences and other STEM fields. Museums provide rare opportunities for members of the public to directly engage with scientific discoveries and scientists in an environment intended to promote impactful, experiential learning. One of the greatest attractions at museums are the fossil galleries. The fossil record of Canada is central to our Nation's natural heritage. The world-class quality of Canada's rich fossil record is evident at numerous special places across the country. Several of these localities boast international accolades, such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation, in recognition of the globally significant fossils they produce. Although research is active in many of these places, several additional areas with great potential to further elevate Canadian discovery and exploration have yet to be fully explored. One such area primed to host the next big breakthrough in Canadian paleontological discovery is the Carboniferous of New Brunswick. The Carboniferous Period (359 to 299 million years ago) is a particularly important time interval in Earth's history because it saw the evolution of the major groups of living vertebrates (animals with backbones). Only a handful of sites globally preserve rocks of this age, with the potential to preserve vertebrates. In partnership with the New Brunswick Museum, our NSERC Alliance aims to develop and execute a multidisciplinary research project that will: 1) target and highlight the Carboniferous rocks of New Brunswick through annual field expeditions for the first time, 2) perform leading-edge, integrative research using newly discovered and existing fossil materials, 3) contribute to the training of highly qualified personnel (HQP) in multi-disciplinary research, and 4) communicate resulting discoveries with the public through the development of exhibits at our partner institution. Any research outcome has the potential to be of groundbreaking scientific importance, and will generate excitement via public engagement and promote tourism for the NBM, the province and Canada, more broadly.