These projects honor the memory of Dr. Jeff Meldrum (1958-2025), whose passing on September 10th left an immeasurable void in physical anthropology and citizen-science advocacy. Through our correspondence as recent as August 2025, Dr. Meldrum embodied the true spirit of scientific inquiry, approaching the unknown with methodological rigor while maintaining genuine humility about how much we still don't understand about our world.

During my undergraduate studies, I had the privilege of learning from a physical anthropology professor who had been in Dr. Meldrum's graduate cohort. Through conversations with my professor about career paths and the realities of scientific research, I realized something: "fringe" science often demands more methodological discipline, not less. And if you play your cards right, you can dedicate your life to your interests after putting the time in completing foundational education.

Basically:
Master the fundamentals first. Then apply them to whatever fascinates you, no matter how unconventional.

Dr. Meldrum's approach to footprint analysis demonstrated that investigating anomalies requires the highest standards of evidence collection, statistical analysis, and peer review. His work taught me that the edge cases were more than the data points that don't fit existing models, they are also where our understanding grows most significantly.

Just as anomalous customer behavior reveals system gaps, edge-case data points reveal where our models need refinement.

Why This Approach Matters

While these projects adopt the visual language of contemporary data science, they're built on genuine respect for rigorous methodology applied to unconventional questions. Dr. Meldrum showed that:

• Institutional skepticism doesn't invalidate careful observation
• Indigenous knowledge systems deserve scientific consideration
• Anomalous data points require investigation, not dismissal
• Methodological rigor becomes more important, not less, when studying the unexplained

These projects don't mock the researchers - they celebrate them. Behind every visualization lies:

• Centuries of eyewitness accounts from diverse communities
• Peer-reviewed environmental modeling techniques
• Scientists who prioritize data integrity over career safety

The humor is armor against despair. The data? That's the tribute.
P.S. The edge of the known is where science grows.