Improvement and Computerization of the Invertebrate Paleontology Collections at the CU Museum of Natural History

在Dena M博士的指导下，科罗拉多大学博物馆获得了一笔赠款。史密斯，以改善无脊椎动物古生物收集和纳入所有标本数据到一个安全的计算机数据库。科罗拉多大学博物馆的无脊椎动物古生物学收藏目前包含277,520种编目的无脊椎动物和11,500种植物。 还有4,800个标本尚未编目。 虽然无脊椎动物古生物学收藏在过去被大量利用，并包含落基山脉地区最好的无脊椎动物古生物学收藏之一，包括一个相当大的和历史上重要的化石昆虫和蜘蛛收藏，无脊椎动物古生物学收藏几乎没有策展监督近100年。 该项目的主要目标是：1）通过稳定和重组所有无脊椎动物标本，使无脊椎动物古生物学藏品达到最高的管理标准; 2）准备和识别尚未被注意到的无脊椎动物和植物材料; 3）将所有标本数据纳入一个新的，安全的计算机数据库。对无脊椎动物古生物学收藏的改进将对科罗拉多大学博物馆满足学术界和公众社区研究和教育需求的能力产生重大影响。 标本不仅将得到妥善储存，而且还将得到更好的组织，更容易用于研究、教学和展览。 为藏品创建一个关系数据库将使管理标本、处理贷款以及提取用于策展和研究目的的数据更加容易。 将收藏数据库放在网上将使广大受众能够查看收藏材料和收集有价值的信息。在线数据库对于开展国家和国际研究合作尤为重要，也将成为教师和公众的宝贵工具。 最后，该项目将对科罗拉多大学博物馆培养未来学生和博物馆人员的能力产生重大影响。

A grant has been awarded to the University of Colorado Museum under the direction of Dr. Dena M. Smith to improve the Invertebrate Paleontology Collections and incorporate all specimen data into a secure computer database. The Invertebrate Paleontology Collections at the University of Colorado Museum currently contain 277,520 catalogued invertebrates and 11,500 plants. There are an additional 4,800 specimens that have yet to be catalogued. Although the Invertebrate Paleontology Collections have been heavily utilized in the past and contain one of the best invertebrate paleontology collections for the Rocky Mountain Region, including a sizeable and historically important fossil insect and spider collection, the Invertebrate Paleontology Collections have had little curatorial supervision for nearly 100 years. The planned improvements will improve the collections, ensure that specimens are available for study and provide the staff necessary to maintain and promote the collection.The primary goals of the project are to: 1) bring the Invertebrate Paleontology collections up to the highest curatorial standards by stabilizing and reorganizing all invertebrate specimens; 2) to prepare and identify invertebrate and plant material that has not yet been attended to; and 3) to incorporate all specimen data into a new, secure computer database. The improvements to the Invertebrate Paleontology Collections will have a major impact on the University of Colorado Museum's ability to serve the research and educational needs of both academic and public communities. Not only will specimens be properly stored, but they will also be better-organized and more accessible for research, teaching and exhibits. Creating a relational database for the collections will make it easier to manage specimens, process loans, and extract data for curatorial and research purposes. Placing the collection database online will allow a wide audience to view collection materials and gather valuable information. The online database will be especially important for producing national and international research collaborations and will also serve as a valuable tool for teachers and the public. Finally, the project will have a major impact on the University of Colorado Museum's ability to train future students and museum personnel.