Fossils Meet Finish: Idaho Museum of Natural History and ISU Programs Team Up for Dino Exhibit

The Idaho Museum of Natural History and the College of Technology’s Welding and Auto Collision Repair & Refinishing programs at Idaho State University have joined forces to create a 3D fossil replica for a groundbreaking exhibit. The unique collaboration exemplifies the multi-disciplinary approach that the university fosters, blending art, technology and science to engage the community in educational experiences.

The exhibit’s crown jewel is a 10-foot tall, 20-foot long model of the Gigantoraptor — a dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period that lived around 100 million years ago. The dinosaur was first discovered 18 years ago in the Iren Dabasu Formation in Erenhot, Mongolia. However, the model at IMNH will feature elements based on fossils from Idaho, Utah, Montana and even China.

“This collaborative effort is really exciting to us here at the museum,” said Robert Gay, the museum’s Education Coordinator. “We’re so excited to unveil the complete exhibit to the public soon!”

Over the last year, Tim Gomes, the Idaho Virtualization Laboratory Manager at the IMNH, utilized ZBrush modeling software to meticulously create individual bones of the Gigantoraptor. This challenging project was a result of a close collaboration with Dr. Brandon Peecook, the Assistant Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at IMNH.

“This project has been one of the hardest projects I have ever worked on,” said Gomes. “I have certainly learned a great deal from it.”

Once 3D printed, the fossil replicas were handed off to Russel Butler and the Auto Collision Repair & Refinishing students from the College of Technology for finishing and painting. The College of Technology's Welding program then expertly welded the fossil replicas onto a robust metal frame, ensuring the exhibit's stability and authenticity. The students were thrilled to tackle a project so different from their usual work.

“It’s really cool to work on,” said Joseph Allen, one of the students painting the fossils. “It’s nice to have something so different from what we usually do.”

The exhibit is set to open on Oct. 7 to the general public. For more information about the Idaho Museum of Natural History, visit their campus location or go online to isu.edu/imnh/. For questions about the Welding and Automotive Collision Repair and Refinishing Technology programs, visit isu.edu/tech/.