Our Mission
The mission of the Institute is education, research and public participation in marine and paleobiological sciences. The Institute does classroom programs and public outreach to inform and interest young people in these areas of science. The institute is an ambassador for international cooperation and understanding by encouraging communication and research among scientists of different countries.MPRI fosters the preservation of our world fossil heritage for education, museum exhibits and research. Emphasis is on fossils that are poorly represented in public institutions.
Our website MPRInstitute.org is maintained as an online resource to foster our mission, to communicate with our supporters, and to be an educational tool.
Articles of Incorporation
Bylaws
2012 IRS 501(c)(3) confirmation letter
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MPRI was not able to hold any events in 2020 but below is a summary of our past events.
2019 EVENTS:
In October, our annual National Fossil Day took place at the Oak Bluffs Public Library. See pictures from this event on the Oak Bluffs Library's Facebook page here.
In May, we took fossil programs for seniors to Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and in June to The Anchors Senior Center in Edgartown in collaboration with the Martha's Vineyard Center for Living and in collaboration with the MV Museum.
In April, Susie Bowman
and Fred Hotchkiss presented
Horseshoe Crabs: A Story of Beach Trysts and Blue Bloods,
a free lecture and slide show about lives and history of horseshoe crabs and opportunities to be involved in the Horseshoe Crab Citizen Science Survey Project -- at the West Tisbury, Edgartown and Oak Bluffs libraries
In March, we visited two 8th grade science classes of Mrs. Connie Alexander in Tisbury, bringing a range of fossils for study and discussion.
In March, we brought touchable fossils to preschoolers at the Island Children's School in West Tisbury.
In February, we visited the 7th grade science classes of Ms. Lea Dorr in Oak Bluffs as they studied geology and the history of beach pebbles found on the Vineyard.
Fossil