Introduction

The Geology Museum is one of the most inspirational spaces to be found at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka – University of Otago. Located in the south end of the Department of Geology Building, the Geology Museum holds a wealth of fossils from ancient ecosystems preserved across deep time. These include the forerunners of species living today, including relatives of taoka species with deep local significance (see: World’s oldest whitebait swam in volcanic lake). Geology, Zoology, Botany and Marine Science students can learn about the wealth of species that give form to the tree of life (see: Small boulders of fossil bacteria). Research students, visiting scholars, and resident academics can delve into particular fossils, ultimately helping us to enrich our understanding of the ancient and interconnected world in which we live (see: Transitional fossil at the dawn of baleen whales). The Geology Museum is a hub of learning and discovery as are all museums, but is particularly important for the richness of fossil taoka from Te Waipounamu, the South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Geology Museum is a globally important part of the research infrastructure of the University of Otago. Like the RV Polaris II, the Mellor Laboratories Clean Lab facility, or the micro-computed tomography scanner within the Department of Anatomy, the Geology Museum is an asset that produces internationally-significant research outputs. These include discovering many species that are new to science, revealing the history of our biological heritage, providing deep insights into environmental change, and making major contributions to the formation of the first United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Global Geopark for Aotearoa.

The discoveries and other insights from the Geology Museum represent a tradition of high quality teaching and research that stretches back 150 years. Students and scholars from around the world have travelled to Ōtepoti Dunedin for the fossil taoka housed within, and to work with the staff who have helped to build the Geology Museum into the valuable collection it is today.

In this volume we invite you to explore fossils from the Geology Museum collections, whether you are able to visit in person or read and explore these fossils using modern technology. Here you can learn about selected fossils, discover when those fossils were found and by whom, and gain insight into why they are important.

We hope you enjoy.