Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park at Rowan University
THE EFM MISSION
Our mission is to be a catalyst for good through the power of understanding the past. We deliver this through first-hand discovery of fossils and an immersive experience in the epic, real story of the dinosaurs. We bring awe and wonder to inspire action for a better world. Using the past, we put the present into perspective and give all people tools to create future actions for good. Whether it’s the pure joy of digging and exploring for exciting possibilities or an awakening of a growing realization about our place in time and how great the gift of life is, we aim to be a remembered, loved, and inspirational agent for good.
ABOUT OUR BUILDING
The quarry’s fossil record inspired the building design: the public galleries are conceived as metaphorical lenses for viewing both the present and the earth’s deep past. Brought to reality by Thomas Wong of Ennead Architects in partnership with KSS Architects and G&A, the museum highlights our commitment to sustainability: the timber structure, wood siding, and low-carbon concrete maximize renewable materials while reducing climate impacts, generous daylighting minimizes the use of artificial lighting, and the building’s all-electric heat pumps draw energy from deep within the earth, with no fossil fuels consumed on site. Bird-friendly glazing and the use of native species across the 65-acre site reflects our dedication to biodiversity and natural habitat restoration.
ABOUT OUR FOSSIL BED
A former marl quarry, our fossil bed has yielded more than 100,000 fossils representing over 100 species of marine and land animals, including the remains of bus-length mosasaurs, marine crocodiles, sea turtles, bony fish, shark teeth, brachiopods, marine snails, and much more. Dr. Kenneth Lacovara’s team analyzes the fossils, the sediments collected around them, and the geochemistry of the site to gain a clearer picture of the period when dinosaurs roamed the Earth.
SCIENTIFIC IMPORTANCE
Sixty-six million years ago, an asteroid struck the Earth wiping out the dinosaurs and 75% of species. The fossil park’s four-acre fossil quarry, set into a 123-acre property, is providing scientists with the best view ever into this pivotal, calamitous event that ended an Earth era, paving the way for the modern world as we know it.
MEET DR. KENNETH LACOVARA
Dr. Kenneth Lacovara has unearthed some of the largest dinosaurs ever to walk the earth, including the massive 65-ton Dreadnoughtus, which appeared in the film Jurassic World: Dominion. He is a recipient of The Explorers Club Medal, the highest honor in exploration, previously awarded to pioneers such as Sir Edmund Hillary, Jane Goodall, and Neil Armstrong. His TED talk has been viewed by over five million people, and his book, Why Dinosaurs Matter, published by Simon & Schuster, is a winner of the Nautilus Book Prize. Lacovara’s discoveries have landed him three times in Discover magazine’s 100 Top Science Stories of the Year, and he has appeared in over 20 television documentaries. He is founding former dean of the School of Earth & Environment at Rowan University, and is the founding executive director of the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum.
ROWAN UNIVERSITY
FOUNDED 1923
A top 100 national public research institution, Rowan University serves more than 22,000 students with undergraduate, doctoral and professional programs in person and online. Carnegie-classified R2 (high research activity), with eight colleges and nine schools, Rowan focuses on practical research at the intersection of health care, engineering, science and business. One of two public universities in the nation to offer M.D. and D.O. degree programs, Rowan will open New Jersey’s first veterinary medical school in 2025.
MEET JEAN & RIC EDELMAN
The Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University was made possible by a generous $25 million donation from alumni Jean & Ric Edelman. Their gift launched the creation of a premier destination for scientific exploration and immersive education. With a profound commitment to advancing education through their philanthropy, Jean and Ric have lent their support to various programs at Rowan University, including the Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts and the Edelman Planetarium. Jean ’81 holds the distinction of being the first woman elected president of Rowan University’s Student Government Association, while Ric ’80 served as president of the sophomore class and later as SGA executive vice president. Following their graduation and marriage, they went on to establish the nation's largest independent financial planning and investment management firm.
