Underneath the Mongolian Studying Academy Mission, Mongolia Quest is creating significant journey experiences throughout archaeology, historical past, anthropology, artwork, tradition, wildlife, and paleontology. That is the story of our journey to constructing a citizen science initiative by means of paleontological expeditions within the huge Gobi Desert.
How It Began
Mongolia Quest started with a imaginative and prescient shared by founders Mr. Gereltuv and Mr. Badral: to create a brand new sort of tourism that blends science, training, cultural discovery, journey, and sustainability, whereas supporting herders, students, conservationists, and group leaders.
In September 2022, we welcomed again famend vertebrate paleontologist Dr. Phil Currie (College of Alberta, Canada) to steer the annual Dinosaurs of Mongolia expedition. Throughout this journey, a scientific plan was developed for 2023, aiming to uncover the lacking bones of Nemegtosaurus on the historic website the place its holotype was first collected in the course of the Polish-Mongolian Paleontological Expeditions of 1965.
Traditionally, the 1965 expeditions uncovered two sauropods within the Nemegt Formation: a cranium with no skeleton, named Nemegtosaurus mongoliensis, and a skeleton with no cranium, named Opisthocoelicaudia skarzynskii. Later analysis revealed that each had been titanosaurid sauropods, however confirming this required discovering overlapping bones.
The 2023 expedition, performed by a multinational staff of ten paleontologists in partnership with the Institute of Paleontology, Mongolia, targeted on excavating the Nemegtosaurus quarry within the Nemegt Basin, one of many world’s most essential Late Cretaceous fossil websites. Over 20 days of fieldwork, the staff uncovered quite a few essential fossil stays.
This expedition additionally demonstrated the potential of accountable tourism, exhibiting how vacationers can immediately contribute to scientific analysis. Due to the beneficiant assist of Mr. Graham Taylor and Mr. Clint Coker from Australia, the expedition grew to become a actuality — a real instance of how science, journey, and group engagement can come collectively.
Citizen Science in Motion
With over 30 years of expertise in academic journey, our staff has realized that analysis papers alone hardly ever encourage broad public engagement or coverage change. By bringing residents into the sector alongside skilled scientists, we provide hands-on experiences that permit individuals to:
- Excavate fossilized bones and doc subject finds.
- Function instruments like moveable XRF units to research geochemical signatures of fossils and surrounding sediments.
- Contribute to mapping fossil websites and cataloging specimens.
These immersive experiences flip individuals into ambassadors for paleontology, fostering curiosity, conservation consciousness, and even nurturing future paleontologists. Many individuals report lifelong inspiration and a deeper connection to science.
Increasing the Imaginative and prescient
Since 2023, the Dinosaurs of Mongolia expedition has been held yearly, co-led by famend paleontologist Dr. Phil Currie and paleobotanist Dr. Eva Koppelhus.
In 2024 and 2025, our collaborations expanded to incorporate Dr. Phil Bell and Dr. Nic Campione from the College of New England (Australia), launching the annual Misplaced Dinosaurs of the Gobi Desert expedition. This program is designed to:
- Help paleontologists in discovering and documenting new dinosaur fossils.
- Assist international efforts to fight the unlawful fossil commerce.
- Have interaction individuals in genuine scientific analysis, together with geochemical fingerprinting of fossils to hint poached specimens.
Throughout 2024–2025, we additionally strengthened our partnership with New Scientist Journal (UK) to prepare the annual Cretaceous Dinosaurs in Mongolia program.
The continued assist of the Institute of Paleontology, Mongolia, stays important—offering excavation permits, scientific experience, and on-site steering for all expeditions.
Scientific Achievements
Over the previous 4 years and eight consecutive paleontological expeditions, our collaborations have already produced vital scientific contributions.
All fossils uncovered are meticulously cataloged and transferred to the Institute of Paleontology of Mongolia, making certain correct preservation and examine. Notable publications from our expeditions embody:
- Currie, P. J. (2023). Celebrating dinosaurs: their behaviour, evolution, progress, and physiology. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences. Learn right here.
- Bell, P. R., Woodruff, D. C., Nguyen, Ok., Mainbayar, B., & Currie, P. J. (2025). Outstanding mushy tissue anatomy recorded in titanosaur (Sauropoda) tracks from the most recent Cretaceous of Mongolia. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. Learn right here.
What’s Subsequent?
Mongolia is house to a few of the richest dinosaur fossil websites on this planet, and at a time when roughly 30 new dinosaur species are described globally every year, we’re dedicated to making sure the nation stays a key contributor to paleontological analysis.
As a pacesetter in academic tourism and citizen science, we proceed to:
- Elevate funds and improve public consciousness.
- Assist Mongolian and worldwide scientists of their analysis.
- Encourage and put together the subsequent technology of paleontologists by means of hands-on fieldwork and immersive expeditions.
By collaborating intently with scientists, native herder communities, and analysis establishments, we create alternatives for vacationers to actively contribute to Mongolia’s scientific legacy whereas gaining a deeper understanding of its international significance.
Transient Updates of 2025
In the course of the Dinosaurs of Mongolia 2025 expedition, the staff uncovered a number of articulated fish skeletons. This supplies uncommon proof of scavenging habits and provides invaluable perception into fish range within the Nemegt Basin.
The Misplaced Dinosaurs of Mongolia 2025 expedition unearthed a well-preserved and presumably full juvenile Tarbosaurus skeleton which shall be absolutely excavated subsequent yr.
A Gallimimus skeleton (not poached) was additionally found and uncovered. It seems that the cranium had been destroyed by erosion earlier than the specimen was discovered. The fossil was rigorously capped with plaster and burlap and shall be collected in 2026.
At Tögrögiin Shiree, a Protoceratops cranium was discovered by the Cretaceous Dinosaurs of Mongolia 2025 expedition. The staff plans to return to the location in 2026 to retrieve the remaining skeleton, which seems to be in an upright place.
We thank all our staff members, companions, and vacationers for making this milestone attainable. We invite all curious vacationers and science lovers to affix us on this thrilling continuation.
Contributing members are liable for the accuracy of content material contributed to the Member Information part of AdventureTravelNews.