Riley Black (she/her)

Riley Black

Riley Black, heralded as a premier gifted young science writer, is the award-winning author of "My Beloved Brontosaurus," "Written in Stone," "When Dinosaurs Ruled," and "The Last Days of the Dinosaurs." A science correspondent for Smithsonian and a regular contributor to publications such as National Geographic and Slate, Black is a widely recognized expert on paleontology. She won the 2024 Friend of Darwin Award from the National Center for Science Education. Her current book is "When the Earth was Green."

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Awards: 2023 AAAS/Subaru Prize for Excellence in Science Books, 2024 Friend of Darwin Award from the National Center for Science Education

Communities: LGBTQ+, Gender Nonconforming, Neurodivergent

Roots, Relics and Revelations

Join Beronda Montgomery, Riley Black and Sam Kean on a journey through time and nature as they share insights on fossils, forests and forgotten histories that uncover the stories that shape our understanding of life on Earth.

Science City - Main Stage (Seats 195)  
Sat, Mar 14, 10:00 am - 10:55 am
Science / Medicine / Technology
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - Science City (following presentation)  

Panelists: Riley Black, Sam Kean, Beronda Montgomery
Moderator: Gary Ferguson
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of JoBob Hungate, Roche Tissue Diagnostics, Tim and Jan Henry

Workshop: Where to Begin

We write in different ways, but how do we prepare to write? In this workshop, bestselling and award-winning author Riley Black will guide you through cultivating the time, space and inspiration you'll need to write the story you've been dreaming of. With writing preparation, the words flow easier.

Integrated Learning Center Room 119 (Seats 60)  
Sat, Mar 14, 2:30 pm - 3:25 pm
Multigenre

Panelist: Riley Black

Plants, Predators & Parasites

Immerse yourself in stories of Earth’s vast living world, spanning plants, animals, microbes, and even viruses with authors Riley Black, James Campbell, and Mindy Weisberger. Dive into prehistoric ecosystems, wildlife conservation, and mind-bending parasitic “zombie” insects in a dynamic panel celebrating science, storytelling, and the surprising connections that shape life on Earth.

National Park Experience Stage (Seats 146, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sun, Mar 15, 1:00 pm - 1:55 pm
Nature / Environment
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - National Parks (following presentation)

Panelists: Riley Black, James Campbell, Mindy Weisberger
Moderator: John Koprowski
Sponsor: Session made possible courtesy of Western National Parks

Books:

When the Earth Was Green

Plants, Animals, and Evolution's Greatest Romance
Science / Medicine / Technology
St. Martin's Publishing Group
February 2025
ISBN 9781250288998
304 pages
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