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Fossil Club Dec: The Shark AI Project: Stimulating AI Education through Fossil Shark Teeth

When
03 Dec 2025
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Location
6908 Belair Rd, Natural History Society of MD

Registration

(depends on selected options)

Base fee:

Education for All
Suggested Donation $5
NHSM Fossil Club
NHSM Member
Suggested Donation $5

Dr. Victor Perez will join us for our December meeting to discuss a recent project that introduced middle school students to computer science and artificial intelligence (AI) through the engaging lens of fossilized shark teeth. This three-year project was funded by a National Science Foundation Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers grant. Middle school students and teachers specifically learned about a branch of AI called computer vision by building models that could identify pictures of fossilized shark teeth. During the presentation, Dr. Perez will discuss the program design and outcomes, and demonstrate how attendees can build their own computer vision models using free online platforms. If you are interested in learning more about the project before the talk, check out the SharkAI Project website.

In addition, Dr. Perez will talk about the newly established Prince George’s County Parks and Recreation Paleontology Program (aka PGPaleo) and share some opportunities to get involved as a volunteer or through our educational programming.

Dr. Victor Perez is the Paleontology Manager for Prince George’s County Parks and Recreation, including Dinosaur Park in Laurel, MD. As a Maryland native, Dr. Perez’s paleontology journey began as an avid fossil collector along Calvert Cliffs. His primary expertise is on the Cenozoic fossil record of sharks and rays, but he has broad interests throughout the geologic timescale and across all branches of the tree of life. He earned his PhD in Geology, with minors in Zoology and Science Education, from the University of Florida. After graduating, Dr. Perez worked as the Assistant Curator of Paleontology at the Calvert Marine Museum and later taught in the Environmental Studies Department at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

This meeting will take place in person at the NHSM building at 6908 Belair Rd, Overlea, MD 21206.

NHSM’s Fossil Club is a group of novice and more experienced collectors who meet to share knowledge and discuss fossil identification, fossil locations, and other fossil-related topics. Monthly meetings feature guest speakers both from within the club and from outside organizations. We also strive to schedule frequent collection trips to various locations.

Although you don’t need to be a member to attend a meeting, membership gives you access to additional experiences. An annual NHSM membership is $35 for individuals, $50 for families; Fossil Club membership is an additional $5 for individuals and $10 for families.

If you are not yet a member of NHSM, click here to join. When you join as a new member, you can add the club membership(s) of your choice to your registration. Current NHSM members who wish to join any clubs should email the Community Coordinator at rbaldwin@marylandnature.org.

The Natural History Society of Maryland is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and contributions are tax-deductible.

The mission of the Natural History Society of Maryland is to foster stewardship of Maryland’s natural heritage by conserving its natural history collections, educating its citizenry, and inspiring its youth to pursue careers in the natural sciences.