Mobile, Ala. - The Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center will welcome noted vertebrate paleoecologist James Lamb to host an evening lecture on Thursday, March 25. The lecture, entitled "Dinosaurs of Alabama" will focus on the basics of paleontology and then delve into the major fossil finds from the state. Alabama, with its Black Belt region, is considered to the best state in the southeast for discovering fossils from the Cretaceous period.

Lamb, who has authored or co-authored authored 30 scientific publications, holds the longest professional career of a vertebrate paleontologist in Alabama. He has made an estimated 900 individual fossil collecting trips in the state, led or co-led 12 major fossil collecting expeditions, worn out four field vehicles and driven an estimated 750,000 miles in the course of field work within the state.

Born in Birmingham, Lamb has excavated giant fossil whales in south Alabama and Ice Age mastodons and Giant ground sloths in the state's northern region, but is most happy working in the dinosaur-aged rocks of central Alabama. He has excavated the most complete meat-eating dinosaur from the eastern US (in Alabama), and the most complete plant-eating dinosaur from the eastern US (in Alabama).

"I fell in love with fossils at an early age and have been searching for them ever since," said Lamb, who is currently preparing the Black Belt Museum at the University of West Alabama for a new duck-billed dinosaur skeleton. "Lucky for me, I've been able to work and thrive with my career right here in my home state."

The one-hour lecture will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the J.L. Bedsole IMAX Dome Theater. Admission is $10 per person and will include time to view Dinosaurs Downtown before and after the event. Entrance will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the event will last until 8:30 p.m.