Bryan Bates has explored and led wilderness trips in the mountains and canyons of the West for 40 years. Following a B.A. Degree in Native American Studies and M.S. in Environmental Science, he and a friend backpacked 21 days through the Grand Canyon. Bryan has led canyoneering backpacks, been a river guide, and conducted archaeological & archaeoastronomical research across the Colorado Plateau, including the Grand Canyon. He has published on archaeoastronomy and was Chair of the Oxford International Conference on Cultural Astronomy. Bryan is currently President of the Society for Cultural Astronomy. Bryan taught biology, environmental science and natural history at Coconino Community College, until retiring as Professor Emeritus, Science, at CCC.

In addition to his research and teaching, Bryan works as an interpretive naturalist with a number of different organizations including the American Association for Advancement of Science, the National Parks Conservation Association and numerous Natural History Museums.