The CU Denver Tracks Collection: physical transfer, curatorial upgrades, and internet access

科罗拉多大学丹佛分校的化石足迹收藏包括来自五大洲21个国家的恐龙、鳄鱼、海龟、鸟类、原始人类和其他古代动物的数千个化石足迹和足迹复制品。 化石足迹对于解释过去的生态系统至关重要：它们揭示了动物的行为，运动模式，姿势和古老的栖息地。国家科学基金会奖将用于转移这个特殊的收集到一个认可的，永久的家在科罗拉多大学自然历史博物馆（博尔德）。该基金还将资助对藏品的管理改进，加强标本的实物保护，更新相关数据，并提供标本信息的在线访问。该项目将使广泛的人受益。 开发一个关于化石足迹的教育网站将向学生、教育工作者和普通公众讲授这些化石的信息价值，以及野外遗址的科学分析和保护。 专业古生物学家将能够利用在线足迹目录，以及显示化石足迹地点全球分布的交互式地图。 此外，将创建K-12恐龙轨道课程活动，通过基于网络的活动和与附近的恐龙岭国家自然地标的公共教育合作，向孩子们传授科学是如何工作的。

The University of Colorado Denver Fossil Tracks Collection includes thousands of fossil tracks and track replicas from dinosaurs, crocodilians, turtles, birds, hominids and other ancient animals from 21 countries on five continents. Fossil footprints are fundamentally important for interpreting past ecosystems: they shed light on animal behavior, patterns of movement, posture, and ancient habitats. The National Science Foundation award will be used to transfer this exceptional collection to an accredited, permanent home at the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History (Boulder). It will also fund curatorial improvements to the collection, enhancing the physical care of specimens, upgrading associated data, and providing on-line access to specimen information.This project will benefit a broad spectrum of people. Development of an educational website on fossil footprints will teach students, educators, and the lay public about the informative value of these fossils, and the scientific analysis and conservation of field sites. Professional paleontologists will be able to utilize the on-line catalog of tracks, as well as an interactive map showing the global distribution of fossil track sites. In addition, K-12 curricular activities on dinosaur tracks will be created to teach children about how science works, through web-based activities and public education collaborations with nearby Dinosaur Ridge National Natural Landmark.