The Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) has outstanding programs in research, collections, publications, and public education. The Museum of the Earth and the Cayuga Nature Center are the public education venues for PRI.
PRI cares for a collection of nearly three million specimens (one of the 10 largest in the U.S.), and publishes Bulletins of American Paleontology, the oldest paleontological journal in the Western Hemisphere, begun in 1895. PRI is a national leader in the development of informal (i.e., outside the classroom) Earth science education resources for educators and the general public.
PRI’s Museum of the Earth was established in 2003 to provide the general public with a unique opportunity to explore our world through a mix of natural history displays, interactive science features, and art exhibitions. The museum’s 8,000-square-foot permanent exhibition takes visitors on a journey through 4.5 billion years of history, from the Earth’s origin to the present day.
The Cayuga Nature Center cultivates awareness, appreciation, and responsibility for the natural world through outdoor and environmental education. Conversations on merging the Nature Center into PRI started almost five years ago and we are well along toward our goal of integrating and transforming the Nature Center into a premier educational center for teaching and learning about the impact of climate change on the fauna and flora of Tompkins County.
PRI is separate from, but formally affiliated with nearby Cornell University, and interact closely with numerous University departments in research, teaching, and public outreach.
