James Edward Washington III aka “Jurassic James®” is a proud, native Houstonian. As a young child, it became clear early on, that he had an interest in paleontology, particularly dinosaurs. Luckily, his mother noticed the interest her son had in science and found ways to encourage him and nurture that passion. In Channelview High School, James was known as the “Dinosaur Man”, but in JROTC he was officially given the nickname of “Jurassic James.”

Career and Education

At Lone Star: North Harris Community College, James discovered his talent for paleontological research projects, when he was asked by his mentor Professor Tom Hobbs to submit his work as an honors research program. After presenting his project to the judges, he was in the top percentage of the college and was selected with five other students to attend the Great Plains Honors conference in Lincoln, Nebraska. The conference was his first time presenting to his educational peers and the feedback he received there made James realized he loved public speaking on scientific matters.

During this time, James learned that his passion was not only to learn Earth Science, but also to teach it to others.  His love for science and history are only matched by his enthusiasm of teaching. While enrolled at Lone Star, he worked as a supplemental instructor, lab assistant, tutor of geology using his nickname “Jurassic James” and has been on many field excursions. James specialized in assisting on many geological and paleontological field excursions for students throughout Texas.

Career and Education

At Lone Star: North Harris Community College, James discovered his talent for paleontological research projects, when he was asked by his mentor Professor Tom Hobbs to submit his work as an honors research program. After presenting his project to the judges, he was in the top percentage of the college and was selected with five other students to attend the Great Plains Honors conference in Lincoln, Nebraska. The conference was his first time presenting to his educational peers and the feedback he received there made James realized he loved public speaking on scientific matters.

During this time, James learned that his passion was not only to learn Earth Science, but also to teach it to others.  His love for science and history are only matched by his enthusiasm of teaching. While enrolled at Lone Star, he worked as a supplemental instructor, lab assistant, tutor of geology using his nickname “Jurassic James” and has been on many field excursions. James specialized in assisting on many geological and paleontological field excursions for students throughout Texas.

He joined the Houston Museum of Natural Science in 2011 and currently serves as one of the premiere tour guides and guest liaisons.  Because of his unique delivery during tours, he often hosts special tours to VIP guests and groups.  During his tenure at the museum, he has given presentations at schools, formal lectures in the Planetarium, led field trips, career days, conferences, webinars, VIP & Skype tours, to patrons out of state and was a presenter at Comicpalooza.

James has hosted several high-profile guests, including major donors and board members at HMNS. Others VIP’s include The Vice Foreign Minister of China, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Mayor Annise Parker, and retired Houston Texan and philanthropist Andre Johnson to name a few.

Living the dream

 James’ passion is contagious, and his teaching methods help others visually understand difficult scientific concepts.  He specializes in teaching Adult Education and Youth Education classes in labs with his personal mineral, rock, shells, model and fossil collection, estimated to be close to ten thousand specimens.  James has a great blend of enthusiasm, excitement and humor which makes his classes enlightening for everyone.

His favorite pursuit is looking at large amounts of geologic and paleontological data and converting it to large graphs. Making these graphs is how James learns and how he teaches others. Making science simple. Many of which professors/scientist with PHDs tell James they have never seen so much information converted like this before. In addition to this James leads his own geological and Paleontological field trips throughout North, Central and West Texas. On these trips students and customers alike see fossils sites, geological formations and tour state and national parks.

James visits many fossil sites bearing invertebrates like clams, oysters, snails, brachiopods, crinoids and the occasional trilobite. But under the Museum James has volunteered to work in the museum’s fossil prep lab under the supervision of the museum’s curator David Temple. He has also excavated with world famous paleontologist Dr. Robert T. Bakker in the lower Permian rocks of Seymour, Texas finding fossils of the Dimetrodon and many early amphibians. While on a trip to South Dakota, James excavated upper Jurassic (Morrison Formation) Camarasaurus fossils with The Black Hills Institute under Mr. Peter Larson the paleontologist star of Dinosaur 13.

Since graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, combining Biology and Geology, James has begun to pursue a Graduate program to get a Master’s in Paleontology.  After a visit to the museum from several of his former collegiate professors to see the education lab and collection that he has amassed, he was advised to apply directly for a PHD program. He is currently organizing a portfolio to continue his formal studies.

– Jurassic James