Blog:
When the area that is now Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument was in danger of being bulldozed for development, the legal counsel of a group called the Defenders of Florissant wrote the following:
The Florissant fossils are to geology, paleontology, paleobotany, palynology, and evolution what the Rosetta Stone was to Egyptology. To sacrifice this 34 million year old record … for 3-year mortgages and the basements of the A-frame ghettoes of the seventies is like wrapping fish with the Dead Sea Scrolls.
It’s a bit of an exaggeration (although Florissant is an amazing and important fossil site), but more generally, I believe that science (and paleobiology in particular) is the Rosetta Stone for our planet.
Rosetta Stones is updated (mostly) daily with news, essays, and book reviews pertaining to science and nature. There’s a certain emphasis on paleobiology and U.S. National Parks, but I’ll write about anything that catches my interest. In general, I probably won’t be writing much about chemistry or physics, although not because I don’t like them.
One of my goals is to include photographs with my posts as often as possible. I am working on improving my photography, but I will also illustrate my posts with public domain and press release photographs at times.
Author:
I, Melissa Barton, am a freelance writer with credits in Geotimes, Transitions Abroad, the Colorado College Bulletin, and other publications. I also maintain the website for the Friends of the Florissant Fossil Beds, Inc. During my undergraduate career I was a staff writer for the online student science magazine JYI, Inc. and the Colorado College monthly alternative magazine, the CiPher. I specialize in science and the environment, travel, and profile writing. I also provide proofreading and editing services. You can view my portfolio and clips online at Rosetta Stones Freelancing.
You may reach me by email at mbarton AT rosettastones DOT net.
In the past I’ve worked as a museum aide for the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) and as a standardized test scorer (a job that is probably even less fun than you’re imagining). I have a B.A. in Geology from Colorado College (CC). I’ll be starting graduate school in museum studies this coming fall.
Disclaimer:
The views represented in this weblog are the views of Melissa Barton, and are not in any way sponsored or endorsed by the National Park Service, the Student Conservation Association, Colorado College, or any other organization or entity mentioned herein.
