CSBR: Ownership Transfer: Transfer of the orphaned University of Minnesota Paleontology Collection to the Cincinnati Museum Center

自然史馆藏，包括古生物馆藏，为生物科学研究提供了基础性资源。辛辛那提博物馆中心(CMC)被授予转让和保护明尼苏达大学(UM)古生物收藏品的奖项，这些藏品包括超过15,000个无脊椎动物和5,500个脊椎动物化石标本。由于缺乏管理，储存条件差，以及即将被转移到异地储存，这些藏品目前处于危险之中。该项目将联合美国中西部两个具有重要科学意义的收藏品，并促进实现两个主要目标：(1)将收藏品保存在具有适当气候控制条件的专用储存设施中，以及(2)管理并向科学界和更广泛的社区传播收藏品，用于研究和教育。古生物收藏激发了公众的想象力，激励了下一代科学家。辛辛那提在古生物学研究和教育方面有着悠久的历史，始于19世纪中期。这一传统将在该项目下继续下去，通过学生实习培训本科生和研究生的策展技能。此外，与CMC成功的STEM女孩计划的合作将为女孩(7至14岁)提供机会成为一天的策展人，并在合作环境中与实物和科学家一起工作的博物馆幕后真实体验。该项目的重点是物理转移、重新安置、数字化和传播具有科学意义的濒危UM古生物收藏品。UM标本集包含相当高比例的模式标本和插图标本。分类、地理和地层重叠，以及UM和辛辛那提博物馆中心(CMC)古生物藏品之间的历史联系，使CMC成为容纳和照顾UM孤儿藏品的天然场所。由于CMC的收藏是动态的和不断增长的，这次转移将以指数级增加UM古生物收藏的可见性、使用率和访问权限。这一奖项有助于一名敬业的工作人员的支持，以监督该项目的策展要求。标本将被编目，输入CMC现有的电子数据库，并纳入CMCS当前收集。此外，UM标本将进行成像、地理参考，并将数字数据共享到CMC的网站(www.cincymuseum.org/Research/intebrate)和iDigBio(iDigBio.org)。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Natural History collections, including paleontology collections provide a foundational resource for biological science research. An award is made to the Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC) to transfer and secure the University of Minnesota (UM) paleontology collection, consisting of over 15,000 invertebrate and 5,500 vertebrate fossil specimens. This collection is currently at risk due to lack of curation, poor storage conditions, and imminent removal to offsite storage. The project will unite two scientifically significant Midwest US collections and facilitate achievement of two major goals: (1) secure the collection in a dedicated storage facility with appropriate climate controlled conditions, and (2) curate and disseminate the collection to the scientific and broader community for research and education. Paleontology collections excite the imagination of public audiences and inspire the next generation of scientists. Cincinnati has a long history of paleontological research and education beginning in the mid-1800s. This tradition will continue under this project by training undergraduate and graduate students in curatorial skills through student internships. In addition, collaboration with CMC's successful STEM Girls Program will provide girls (ages 7 to 14) the opportunity to be "Curator for a Day" and have authentic experiences behind the scenes of the Museum working with real objects and scientists in a collaborative environment.The focus of this project is the physical transfer, rehousing, digitization, and dissemination of a scientifically significant and endangered UM paleontology collection. The UM collection contains a significantly high proportion of type and figured specimens. Taxonomic, geographic, and stratigraphic overlap, and the historical connections between UM and Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC) paleontology collections, make CMC the natural place to house and care for UM's orphaned collection. As CMC's collection is dynamic and growing, this transfer will exponentially increase the visibility, use, and access to the UM paleontology collection. This award facilitates the support of a dedicated staff member to oversee the curatorial requirements of this project. Specimens will be catalogued, entered into CMC's existing electronic database, and integrated into CMCs current collection. Additionally, UM specimens will undergo imaging, georeferencing, and sharing of digital data to CMC's website (www.cincymuseum.org/research/invertebrate) and iDigBio (iDigBio.org).This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.