Mike Viney pursues science education as both a career and a hobby. Family visits to the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, Florissant Fossil Beds in Colorado, and Shirley Basin in Wyoming during the 1960s sparked his interest and passion for fossil wood. Viney has written articles on multiple fossil deposits and even created an online virtual museum for petrified wood enthusiasts. Viney’s life-long passion for fossil wood makes it easy to understand why he embraces Friends of Fossil Forests. The educational and research support provided by Friends of Fossil Forests will help local communities worldwide develop agency in the use and conservation of their paleontological resources. In illuminating fossil wood deposits through educational outreach, Friends of Fossil Forests will inspire the next generation of paleobotanists.

​