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United States Amy Atwater is a paleontologist, author, and science communicator who has transitioned her expertise from academic research to leading educational initiatives at significant fossil sites.
Amy Atwater was appointed as the first-ever Director of Paleontology at Friends of Dinosaur Ridge, a non-profit organization that provides educational programming and stewardship for the significant outdoor fossil sites within the Morrison-Golden Fossil Areas National Natural Landmark. Her role includes leading scientific research, expanding educational initiatives, and fostering collaborations.
Amy Atwater was named President-Elect of the Colorado Scientific Society in January 2025. This organization, founded in 1882, promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and public appreciation of science in the Rocky Mountain region. As President-Elect, Atwater will focus on engaging younger professionals and students in science.
Amy Atwater worked as the Paleontological Collections Manager-Registrar for the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana, from 2017 to 2021, where she managed the museum's paleontological collections.
Atwater has worked for the National Park Service as a scientist and park ranger at multiple locations including Arches National Park, Denali National Park, Big Bend National Park, and John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, focusing on paleontological resources and education.
Amy Atwater has worked for the United States Geological Survey as a Curator and Museum Specialist for the Geologic Materials Repository.
Amy Atwater is the author of the children's book 'The Fossil Keeper's Treasure', published by Magic Cat Publishing, in collaboration with illustrator Natalia Cardozo.
A portrait of Amy Atwater is featured in The Bearded Lady Project museum exhibit and book, which aims to challenge the traditional face of science.
Amy Atwater is an American author, paleontologist, and science communicator known for her contributions to vertebrate paleontology and her efforts in public science engagement. She holds a B.S. in geological sciences (Paleontology Track) with a minor in anthropology from the University of Oregon Clark Honors College, obtained in 2013. She furthered her education with an M.A. in anthropology in 2017 from the University of Texas at Austin as an NSF Graduate Research Fellow. Her master’s thesis focused on new Middle Eocene omomyines (primates, haplorhini) from the Friars Formation of San Diego County, California, where she contributed to the description of three new omomyine taxa. Her research interests also include proboscidea, borophagine, geochronology, and the impact of topography and climate change on mammal diversity.
Atwater has held positions with several institutions dedicated to natural history and scientific research. She has worked for the National Park Service as a scientist and park ranger at various sites including Arches National Park, Denali National Park, Big Bend National Park, and John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. From 2017 to 2021, she served as the Paleontological Collections Manager for the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana. Additionally, she has worked for the United States Geological Survey as a Curator and Museum Specialist for the Geologic Materials Repository and as an instructor for Sternberg Museum Science Camps. Her career demonstrates a commitment to both scientific discovery and making complex paleontological concepts accessible to a wider audience.
In January 2025, Atwater was appointed the first-ever Director of Paleontology at Friends of Dinosaur Ridge in Morrison, Colorado, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and educating the public about the Dinosaur Ridge fossil site. This role involves leading scientific research, expanding educational programs, and fostering collaborations with academic institutions. Concurrent with this appointment, she was named President-Elect of the Colorado Scientific Society in January 2025, the oldest scientific society in the Rocky Mountain region. She is also the author of the children’s book ‘The Fossil Keeper’s Treasure’ and manages a popular paleontology-themed science communication social media page.
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