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

博物馆藏，包括古生物馆藏，为生物科学研究提供了基础资源。辛辛那提博物馆中心（CMC）获得了一项奖励，以转移和保护明尼苏达大学（UM）的古生物学收藏，其中包括超过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，存储条件差，以及即将转移到场外存储，这些收藏品目前处于危险之中。该项目将联合美国中西部的两个具有重要科学意义的藏品，并促进实现两个主要目标：(1)在适当的气候控制条件下，将藏品存放在专门的存储设施中；(2)整理和传播这些藏品给科学界和更广泛的社区进行研究和教育。古生物收藏激发了公众的想象力，并激励了下一代科学家。辛辛那提的古生物学研究和教育历史悠久，始于19世纪中期。这一传统将在本项目下延续，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女孩计划合作，将为7至14岁的女孩提供“一天馆长”的机会，并在协作环境中与真实的物体和科学家一起工作，获得博物馆幕后的真实体验。该项目的重点是物理转移，重新安置，数字化和传播科学意义重大和濒危的UM古生物收藏。UM的藏品包含了相当高比例的类型和图形标本。分类学、地理学和地层学的重叠，以及辛辛那提大学和辛辛那提博物馆中心（CMC）古生物收藏之间的历史联系，使CMC成为容纳和照顾辛辛那提大学孤儿收藏品的天然场所。由于CMC的收藏是动态的和不断增长的，这种转移将成倍地增加UM古生物收藏的可见性、使用和访问。该奖项有助于支持一个专门的工作人员来监督这个项目的策展要求。标本将被编目，输入CMC现有的电子数据库，并整合到CMC目前的馆藏中。此外，UM标本将进行成像，地理参考和数字数据共享到CMC网站（www.cincymuseum.org/research/invertebrate）和iDigBio （iDigBio.org）。这项奖励反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，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.