National Academy of Sciences member Mary Droser to explore the dawn of animal life at UNM

What did Earth's first animals look like? How did they move, feed, and interact with their environments? And what can fossils more than half a billion years old tell us about the origins of the complex life we see today?

These questions will take center stage when internationally recognized paleontologist Mary Droser, distinguished professor at the University of California, Riverside and a member of the National Academy of Sciences, visits The University of New Mexico on Friday, Oct. 23, to deliver the 9th Annual Stuart A. Northrop Distinguished Lecture.

Her talk, "Animals, Sediments, Slime, Muck & Goo: The Record of Earth Animals & Their Environments," will take place from 2-3 p.m. in Northrop Hall, Room 122, followed by a reception in Room 116.

Droser is one of the world's leading experts on the earliest evolution of animal life. For more than two decades, she and her research team have investigated extraordinary fossil deposits in South Australia's Flinders Ranges, where ancient seafloors preserve remarkably detailed records of some of Earth's earliest animal communities.

These fossils date to the Ediacaran Period, a pivotal chapter in Earth's history when complex, multicellular organisms were beginning to flourish long before the appearance of familiar animals such as fish, insects, or dinosaurs.

By carefully excavating and reconstructing ancient seafloor surfaces, Droser's team has uncovered evidence of early animal movement, reproduction, scavenging, and ecological interactions. Their discoveries reveal an ancient world populated by organisms with unfamiliar and sometimes astonishing body plans, living in close association with the microbial mats that covered much of the seafloor.

The research is helping scientists answer a fundamental question: How did the first complex animal communities emerge, and how did they begin to transform Earth's environments?

Droser's contributions to paleontology have received international recognition. She was awarded the National Academy of Sciences' Walcott Medal in 2022 and the Paleontological Society Medal in 2024. In 2025, she was elected to the National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest honors in American science.

Beyond her research discoveries, Droser has played an important role in preserving the fossil record for future generations. Working with the South Australian government, she helped establish Nilpena Ediacara National Park, protecting one of the world's most important sites for understanding the origins of animal life.

The Stuart A. Northrop Distinguished Lecture Series was established in 2016 through a generous gift from UNM alumnus Bill Lovejoy, a former student of Northrop. The series honors the legacy of Stuart A. Northrop, who served as chair of UNM's Department of Geology from 1929 to 1961 and helped establish the foundations of the modern Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences.

The lecture series brings distinguished scientists to UNM to share discoveries that advance our understanding of the Earth and reflect Northrop's lifelong enthusiasm for scientific exploration and education.

The lecture is open to the university community and the public. Students and community members with an interest in fossils, evolution, Earth's history, or the natural world are especially encouraged to attend.