BOLORTSEGSEG MINJIN

Dr. Bolortsetseg Minjin is a Mongolian paleontologist and geologist known for her discovery of 67 dinosaur fossils in the Gobi Desert in just one week. Since 2012, she has played a pivotal role in preserving Mongolia’s rich fossil heritage, including multinational efforts to stop the sale of poached Mongolian dinosaurs. In this work, she collaborated closely with the US Department of Homeland Security, multiple US attorney offices, and the Mongolian government. As a result, a remarkable amount of unique dinosaur remains were repatriated, leading Mongolia to award Dr. Bolortsetseg the Order of the Polar Star.

The founder and president of the Institute for the Study of Mongolian Dinosaurs, Bolor currently serves as the Executive Director of the American Center for Mongolian Studies as well as a board member for the Alliance of Mongolian Museums. Although Mongolia is one of the world’s richest areas for paleontology, few Mongolian children grow up knowing about the dinosaurs in their own back yard. Bolor is passionate about scientific communication and outreach to Mongolian youth. Her organization drives a mobile museum across rural Mongolia to reach underserved populations while also leading a project to construct a dinosaur museum.