It’s a spring break tradition here at UCMP to organize a trip exploring the geology and paleontology of a particular region. In the past, students and faculty have traveled to places like Oregon and Baja. But why run off when there’s so much to see in our own backyards?

In a series of trips to nearby parks, Integrative Biology graduates, undergraduates, faculty, and affiliates literally got their feet wet trekking across the product of the Bay Area’s complex geologic history. From UC Berkeley’s next door neighbor, Tilden Regional Park, to Mount Diablo State Park and Point Reyes National Seashore, we took an up-close and personal look at the physical processes that have shaped the local landscape and the rich paleontological record we are surrounded by everyday.

Stay tuned for future posts about the trips and the geology and fossils found in the Bay Area and enjoy some teaser photos below.