Building on the past, for the future: research laboratories for the Paleontological Research Institution

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。该奖项将支持古生物研究所（PRI）的四个研究空间的改造，以创建一套现代化，功能齐全，适应性强，安全的共享实验室，有利于PRI的收藏，图书馆和其他研究资源支持的研究类型。这些翻新将使PRI能够利用其在21世纪古生物学方面的收藏、研究和推广优势，通过建立基础设施来支持当前的研究，并允许PRI维持和推进其前沿水平，未来的可资助研究。将翻新的实验室包括：BioLab，它将成为PRI“清洁实验室”，用于显微镜工作（包括解剖，微化石处理，散装样品分选等）；湿地实验室（=水族馆实验室）将成为PRI的“活动室”，用于维护水生无脊椎动物（在目前的配置下，不会维护水生或陆生脊椎动物）；palolab将成为PRI的“肮脏实验室”，用于处理现场收集和粗糙的标本制备；PrepLab将专门用于精细样品制备，使用旋转工具和空气磨损（微型喷砂），以及样品成型和铸造。这个实验室也作为一个博物馆展览，在这里发生的所有研究活动都在参观的公众通过三个大窗户进入博物馆画廊。PRI的几乎所有研究都内置了外联组件。PRI有一个杰出而雄心勃勃的推广计划，广泛利用其标本收集来帮助K-12，公众和大学观众更好地了解历史科学的本质。实验室的翻新将使PRI能够极大地改善和扩展现有的项目，这些项目涉及到公众、学校团体、教师和其他人。这次翻新将通过互动式的标本准备，方便博物馆参观者“进入实验室”。PRI还将使用内部技术记录实验室活动和正在进行的研究，如录像记录实验室活动，用于公共展览、教师专业发展资源和在线虚拟展览。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). The award will support renovation of four research spaces at the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) to create a set of modern, functional, adaptable, and safe shared laboratories conducive to the type of research supported by PRI's collections, library, and other research resources. The renovations will position PRI to leverage its collections, research, and outreach strengths in 21st Century paleobiology, by building basic infrastructure to support current research and allow PRI to sustain and advance its level of cutting-edge, fundable research into the future. Laboratories to be renovated include: BioLab which will be the PRI 'clean lab' for microscope work (including dissection, microfossil processing, sorting bulk samples, etc.); WetLab (= Aquarium Lab) which will be the PRI 'live room' for the maintenance of living aquatic invertebrates (no vertebrates, aquatic or terrestrial, will be maintained under the present configuration); PaleoLab which will be the PRI 'dirty lab' for processing field collections and rough specimen preparation; and PrepLab which will be dedicated to fine specimen preparation, using rotary tools and air abrasion (mini-sand blasting), and for specimen molding and casting. This lab also serves as a museum exhibition, in that all research activities that occur here are in full view of the visiting public through three large windows into the Museum gallery.Nearly all research at PRI has outreach components built into it. PRI has an outstanding and ambitious outreach program that makes extensive use of its specimen collections to help K-12, public, and college audiences better understand the nature of the historical sciences. The laboratory renovations will allow PRI to greatly improve and expand upon existing programs that reach the public, school groups, teachers, and others. The renovations will facilitate bringing Museum visitors 'into the lab' through interactive specimen preparation. PRI will also document laboratory activities with on-going research using in-house technology such as videography to document lab activities, for use in public exhibits, teacher professional development resources, and online virtual exhibits.