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SACAD: John Heinrichs Scholarly and Creative Activity Days

Award Level

1st Place - Non-empirical Graduate

Classification

Non-empirical Graduate

Abstract

Fossil preservation is exhaustive, meticulous, and demands knowledgeable specialists. In small museums, preparation staff can often be limited by the absence of tools, funds, and experience. This case study highlights the development and field-testing of preparatory resources to train students at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. The Sternberg Museum has a backlog of fossils requiring preparation and a need for volunteers trained in fossil preparation, making it an ideal location. Over the course of four two-hour sessions, students learned techniques for assessing fossils and matrix, how to determine the appropriate tools, proper use of materials and tools, and molding and casting techniques. Qualitative assessments were based on final prepared specimens, knowledge of methods, and a final self-assessment. The course successfully trained volunteers and allowed for greater engagement with the public by consistently populating the preparation laboratory.

Faculty Advisor

Dr. Laura Wilson

Department/Program

Geosciences

Submission Type

in-person poster

Date

4-28-2016

Rights

Copyright the Author(s)

Comments

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