Bighorn Basin Paleontological Institute

The Bighorn Basin Paleontological Institute (BBPI) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to paleontology and earth science research, education, and outreach. The organization conducts paleontological field work in the Bighorn Basin of Montana and Wyoming, largely focusing on vertebrates from the Mesozoic. During the off-season, the BBPI is primarily based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where they work to provide free outreach and education programs in the natural sciences to the public. The BBPI is the official scientific and educational partner of . The BBPI also operates the Fossil Preparation Lab at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, which serves as the BBPI’s base of operations for fossil preparation and research. The BBPI also works very closely with the Academy to develop and implement educational programming. The Cincinnati Museum Center, Museum of Natural History and Science is the official repository for all fossils collected by the BBPI.
Programs.
The BBPI runs a 6-week field expedition each summer in southern Montana and northern Wyoming to collect fossils of dinosaurs and other Mesozoic vertebrates. Field programs generally run from late June through mid-August. These field expeditions are open to sign-ups for individuals to learn about the geology, paleontology, and natural history of the region while aiding BBPI paleontologists in collecting fossils for research. For students, the program is available as a for-credit field paleontology course through Rocky Mountain College.
From 2017-2019, the BBPI also offered a dinosaur-themed summer camp program entitled “Dinosaur Treasures in Our Backyard” for children throughout rural Carbon County, Montana and in Cody, Wyoming. The program features several lessons and hands-on activities to teach children about dinosaurs, paleontology, and the fossil discoveries that have been made within their region.
Dig sites.
The BBPI’s dig sites are largely within the Lance and Morrison formations, though they have also spanned through the Cloverly, Fort Union, and Willwood formations. Nearly all of the BBPI’s localities lie within Carbon County, MT. Among the BBPI’s excavation sites is the Mother’s Day Quarry which the team has been excavating since the summer of 2017.
The BBPI has excavated a wide variety of dinosaur genera including "Diplodocus, Tyrannosaurus, Allosaurus, Triceratops, Leptoceratops, Suuwassea", "Edmontosaurus", Ankylosaur, and many others. Their finds have included many crocodilian, turtle, and plant fossils as well.