Charleston Center for Paleontology jobs and careers

About Charleston Center for Paleontology

The Charleston Center for Paleontology (CCP) is non-profit whose mission is to advance the research and conservation of the unique paleontology and geology of the Charleston embayment. It accomplishes this mission through three aims: (1) Conserve the Charleston Tri-County Area’s important fossil resources The Charleston embayment is one of the most important fossil exposures in the US. It’s fossil record spans 40 million years, and can show us how animals adapted to the pressures of changing ecosystems throughout that time, from cold, deep prehistoric oceans to our warm, modern marshes. The Tri-County Area is the center of a rapid development, and there is risk that the paleontological resources below will be lost forever. CCP acquires and conserves properties of scientific importance, so that they can be studied. (2) Drive research on the paleontology of the Charleston Tri-County Area forward Fossil-rich strata in Charleston preserve two unique time periods in evolution of vertebrates: the origin of whales and dolphins as a response to global cooling (30-23 mya), and the origin of modern species during the beginning of the ice ages (2.5-1 mya). The study of fossil assemblages and the response of ecosystems to dramatic climatic changes may provide insight into the vulnerabilities and resiliency of modern species affected by climate change. CCP works both as an independent research center and as a bridge between Charleston and the larger academic community. Its staff possess expertise in field work, excavation, preparation, and conservation. Its partnerships foster collaborations with research institutions throughout the globe, and elevate the importance of SC paleontology to the global stage. (3) Educate and provide opportunities for the community to engage with the Charleston Tri-County Area paleontology CCP provides workshops and outreach services to local schools, teaching hands-on workshops in paleontology principles to inspire the next generation.