A world-class scientific research hub
We envision being the world’s leading center for Ice Age science and its relevance to our modern extinction and climate crises. The Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research will be the intellectual core of La Brea Tar Pits, studying how ancient ecosystems responded to climate change and mass extinction, and what those lessons mean for us today.
Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research
Envisioned as an enduring center of excellence in pioneering transformative science, the Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research encompasses research, excavation, scientific analysis, academic publishing, and collections management. Its impact and work will be woven into the landscape of Hancock Park, integrated into the museum at La Brea Tar Pits, and infused into every Tar Pits program, driving the visitor experience and reaching global audiences. Indigenous communities within the Los Angeles Basin will serve as integral co-developers of research and educational programs.
There is no place on Earth like La Brea Tar Pits. It is fitting to honor my husband Samuel Oschin’s legacy by supporting science and research in the heart of Los Angeles, a city he helped to develop and shape…
—Lynda Oschin, Chairman of the Board and Secretary of the Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Oschin Family Foundation | MORE >
“There is no place on Earth like La Brea Tar Pits. It is fitting to honor my husband Samuel Oschin’s legacy by supporting science and research in the heart of Los Angeles, a city he helped to develop and shape. Sam and I started the foundation in order to inspire future generations by supporting organizations that deepen our understanding of the world around us. Through this work, I know the lessons of Ice Age Los Angeles will inspire countless scientists and young students here and globally.”
—Lynda Oschin, Chairman of the Board and Secretary of the Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Oschin Family Foundation
President and Director at Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga, stands alongside benefactor Mrs. Lynda Oschin, representing the Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Oschin Family Foundation. The pair celebrated the launch of the Samuel Oschin Global Center for Ice Age Research—a transformative cornerstone of the Reimagining La Brea Tar Pits project.
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Latest research
Death by Fire — Science Magazine Article and Paper
From the Cover of Science magazine
Dig into the fascinating “Uncovering Death by Fire” research from La Brea Tar Pits! It turns out megafauna like saber-toothed cats and dire wolves weren’t just trapped in asphalt—ancient wildfires and climate shifts played a massive, catastrophic role in their final days. Excited to read how scientists are piecing together this prehistoric puzzle to understand our planet’s future.
New Toad Research
A Toad-ally New Discovery
Unearthing research from the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology on fossilized bones from La Brea Tar Pits! Scientists discovered Spea labreae, a new extinct Ice Age spadefoot toad, and found Mexican burrowing toad remains 2,500 km north of their modern range, revealing how Pleistocene climate shifts radically reshaped animal populations.