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. After earning her M.A. in anthropology as an NSF Graduate Research Fellow from the University of Texas at Austin in 2017, Amy Atwater significantly contributed to vertebrate paleontology. Her master’s thesis focused on new Middle Eocene omomyines from the Friars Formation of San Diego County, California, where she contributed to the description of three new omomyine taxa.
She secured her B.S. in geological sciences (Paleontology Track) from the University of Oregon Clark Honors College in 2013. Atwater served as the Paleontological Collections Manager for the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana, from 2017 to 2021. She gained experience with the National Park Service as a scientist and park ranger at Arches, Denali, Big Bend National Parks, and John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.
She is the acclaimed author of the children’s book ‘The Fossil Keeper’s Treasure,’ which brings complex paleontological concepts to a wider, younger audience. She also manages a popular paleontology-themed social media page, leveraging digital platforms to engage the public with scientific discoveries and foster a broader appreciation for natural history. January 2025 marked a significant turning point with two pivotal appointments. Atwater was named the first-ever Director of Paleontology at Friends of Dinosaur Ridge in Morrison, Colorado, a non-profit dedicated to the preservation and public education of the Dinosaur Ridge fossil site.
In this key leadership role, she will spearhead scientific research, expand educational programs, and nurture collaborations with academic institutions. Concurrently, she was appointed President-Elect of the Colorado Scientific Society, the oldest scientific society in the Rocky Mountain region, underscoring her esteemed standing within the scientific community and her continued influence in advancing paleontological understanding and engagement.