Evolution is the biological change present over successive generations. The biggest evidence to evolution is fossils. Holding a shark tooth that dates back to millions of years ago puts in perspective the history of Earth and all the living beings that inhabited it before humans. Advanced Placement (AP) Biology teacher Wesley Kirpach has a keen interest in paleontology and often takes students on fossils hunts at various sites. On Oct. 6, Kirpach and his students found a new species of ammonite, a squid like creature with a spiral shell, never before found on campus and never before found on Earth.

“You’re the only human being in the history of man to see what is under that rock,” Kirpach said. “And nobody can take that feeling away; it is absolute discovery.”

An ammonite was found in Texas millions of years ago when it was covered in water. This specific type of ammonite was never before found on campus. Numerous prehistoric fossils have been found on campus including a mosasaur (an extinct marine reptile), a fifteen foot long bull dog fish called Xiphactinus and the longest shark tooth found on campus was two inches long from a twenty foot shark.

“All of the fossils have been found in that little creek next to the student parking lot,” Kirpach said.

The students like the experience of getting out of the typical classroom setting and going to different sites and searching for fossils. It is unlike anything they have ever done and they say that the environment and experience is great.

“It is a lot of just sitting and walking and digging away at rock,” junior Christina Zhao said. “But finding a fossil makes it worth it.”

Not many other schools have the serendipitous opportunity to search for prehistoric fossils right on their own campus. Kirpach believes that to learn something in the classroom is one thing, but to learn something by exploring and discovering is a whole other experience.  

“This helped me understand the concept of evolution better and actually seeing something while learning about it at the same time makes a huge difference,” senior Monisha Dhanesker said. Kirpach has the ability to educate and inspire his students through his ardent passion for paleontology and biology.  

“Mr. Kirpach inspires me to become a better scientist and to explore the fields,” Zhao said. “His enthusiasm in the classroom is infectious.”

Texas was once completely covered in water. There was once a diverse collection of now extinct marine reptiles that lived on campus and Kirpach and his students have the opportunity to keep on searching for and discovering new fossils.

“Paleontology is not a science that is over with,” Kirpach said. “Paleontology is an ongoing science that we’re learning about just like we’re learning about all the technology out there.”