Local paleontologist returns home to share geologic history of Plymouth Bluff
Paleontology curator George Phillips will present “The Geologic History of Plymouth Bluff” at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, at the Plymouth Bluff Environmental Center.
“I grew up nearby in the Black Belt (Artesia) and lived for several years on Old West Point Road. I’m always excited to talk about the ancient past, but even more so when I’m speaking both about and on my ‘home turf,’” said Phillips, paleontology curator for the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science.
Raised in the heart of the Mississippi Black Belt, Phillips spent his early years working on his family’s farm, where a chance friendship with a knowledgeable farmhand and a local geologist sparked a lifelong interest in paleontology. He later pursued formal education, earning a bachelor’s degree in biology and geology from Mississippi State University followed by a master’s degree in geology from North Carolina State University. While conducting research and working part-time at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, he was offered the role of paleontology curator at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science (MMNS) in 2003.
Since then, Phillips has maintained an active research portfolio and built meaningful collaborations—particularly with the Mississippi Office of Geology—whose partnership is vital to the Paleontology Section’s public outreach and scientific work. His research interests cover a wide range of topics, from documenting ancient ecosystems and new species in the Southeast to studying extinction and recovery at the K-Pg boundary.
“We’re thrilled to welcome George Phillips back to his roots to share his deep knowledge of the region’s geologic history,” said Chandler Lester, director of the Plymouth Bluff Environmental Center. “His connection to this area and passion for paleontology make this a unique opportunity for the community to learn more about the ancient past beneath our feet.”
Phillips’s presentation is free and open to the public.
Located in a secluded area high above the old Tombigbee River Channel near Columbus, Mississippi, the Plymouth Bluff Center is a 190-acre educational and recreational facility. Nestled in the beautiful woodlands of east-central Mississippi, the center provides an ideal setting for learning, personal growth and recreation in a natural environment.
The address is 2200 Old West Point Road, Columbus, Mississippi.
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks’ Museum of Natural Science has been working to protect the state’s natural resources since the 1930s. Attracting visitors from around the world, the museum contributes to Mississippi’s tourism economy and provides essential educational, recreational and scientific services across the state.