Congratulations to Dr. Dale Gnidovec on Receiving the 2025 ODNR Cardinal Award!

We are thrilled to share that Dr. Dale Gnidovec, Curator of The Ohio State University’s Orton Geological Museum, has been named a recipient of the 2025 Cardinal Award from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). This prestigious honor recognizes individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to conservation and environmental education in Ohio. Since 1971, only 248 recipients have earned this distinction, and we are proud to see Dr. Gnidovec among them.

For the past 24 years, Dr. Gnidovec has served as the heart and soul of the Orton Geological Museum. With a deep passion for paleontology, especially dinosaurs, and a commitment to public engagement, Dale has inspired thousands of Ohioans to view their world through a geological lens. Whether caring for the museum’s collection of more than 54,000 rocks, minerals, and fossils, giving guided tours, or identifying specimens brought in by curious visitors, his work reflects a tireless enthusiasm for Earth science.

Dr. Gnidovec’s impact extends far beyond the museum walls. Each year, he brings geology to life for nearly 3,000 people through presentations at schools, libraries, parks, nature centers, senior living communities, and public events. He also reaches broader audiences through his accessible and informative geology columns in The Columbus Dispatch. As a lecturer in OSU’s School of Earth Sciences, he continues to share his knowledge with the next generation of geologists in the Earth History course he teaches.

Outside the classroom and museum, Dale has spent over a decade joining crews from the Cincinnati Museum Center on dinosaur digs in Montana — proof that his love for discovery never takes a summer off.

The Cardinal Award, presented each year at the Ohio State Fair, recognizes individuals who exemplify ODNR’s mission through impactful education and outreach. We can think of no better honoree than Dr. Dale Gnidovec, whose dedication, generosity, and scientific expertise have helped countless Ohioans connect with the deep history beneath their feet.

Please join us in congratulating Dale on this well-earned recognition and in thanking him for more than two decades of service to science and the people of Ohio.