Rick Schmidt, Ed.D.

Dr. Rick Schmidt is an educator, outdoorsman, paleontologist and firefighter. He grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs and first acquired his love for the outdoors through scouting.  While there are no other scientists or educators in his family, Rick always showed an innate interest in science even at an early age and he never outgrew his childhood love of dinosaurs.  During his undergraduate years as a dual degree student in both Earth Sciences and Secondary Education, Rick also connected strongly with the field of meteorology in addition to geology, a skill set he still uses each summer in the Bighorn Basin. During his 32 year tenure in public education, he was the author/instructor of six unique curricula in Advanced Geosciences, Forensic Science, Survival Science and Leadership Studies. He has been recognized for excellence in teaching by the National Association of Geoscience Teachers, the Geological Society of America and Penn State University. In 2012, Dr. Schmidt received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the highest science teaching award issued by the United States government.

Rick has also been a firefighter and fire officer at a busy suburban fire company since 1988 having served up to the rank of Assistant Chief.  He has an affinity towards special rescue and truck company operations and has served with several natural disaster response teams during his long tenure.

Rick is currently acting as the Director of Educational Programming for Elevation Science and is actively engaged in ongoing work between the organization and outside entities including public, private and higher education partners.    

Curriculum Vitae 

Research

Rick’s research interests encompass both paleontology and geoscience education.  As an undergraduate, he authored Kings of the Mesozoic, a comprehensive guide to the geology, ecology, climate and dinosaur taxonomies during the Mesozoic Era for teachers with an interest in dinosaur paleontology.  As his career progressed, he focused on the lack of connection between secondary education earth science and undergraduate geoscience programs.  In 2011, he completed his doctoral dissertation Bridging the Geoscience Workforce Gap: Advanced High School Geoscience Programs as a means to connect the K-12 and higher education geoscience communities.  His research on this topic and the ongoing impact of his advanced geosciences program continues to this day and he frequently speaks at national conferences and guest lectures on the topic.  

During the summer months, he helps to develop and teach the geology portions of the Elevation Science program to participants with a special emphasis on the undergraduate students working towards college credit from their experience in the Bighorn Basin.  

Teaching Experience

Rick retired from public education in 2025 after 32 years and is now working year-round for Elevation Science developing new educational programs for the organization. During his tenure, he taught all grades from 7-12 but is best known for the creation of his Advanced Geosciences program for juniors and seniors at Upper Dublin High School in Montgomery County (PA).  First started in 2001, the two courses he designed were the first high school geoscience courses in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to be accredited by a four year university and have since acted as a template for other school districts in PA to emulate. 

In His Own Words

“Sometimes the most interesting things in a career happen entirely by accident and that is how I first became affiliated with the Elevation Science in 2012. Now, I can’t wait until the next season in the field. There is something rejuvenating about working outside that you just cannot feel by any other means. It’s not science, it’s just a deep seated feeling but I know it draws all of us associated with the BBPI back to Montana and Wyoming every year. From the first sunset you watch on the Beartooth Pass to the thrill of finding a brand new dinosaur bone never before seen by any other human on Earth, once you’ve experienced this with us, you’ll understand what brings us back year after year.”