Replacement and Renovation of Collections Space at the Paleontological Research Institution

古生物研究所(PRI)是世界上唯一专门致力于古生物学科学的私人研究机构。它收藏了主要的无脊椎动物化石和最近的软体动物，以及全国最大的类型和图形化石标本收藏之一。由于缺乏永久的管理和储存设施，这些藏品被允许变质，研究和教育界多年来一直无法访问。PRI已开始努力更换和扩大现有设施，以便合并研究所、康奈尔大学和罗切斯特大学的藏品。具体地说，来自学术研究基础设施计划的资金将使PRI能够取代目前用于存放藏品的条件较差的现有空间。这是近一个世纪以来的第一次，该项目将提供所需的空间，以充分容纳和照顾收藏品，并使它们可用于研究用途。因此，合并后的藏品将是美国最大和最好的藏品之一，尤其是西半球的新生代和美国东北部的古生代。这两个领域目前在环境和动物群变化领域都有相当大的研究兴趣。作为方圆250英里范围内最大的化石收藏，合并后的收藏有可能成为一个地区性和全国性的古生物学研究和教育中心。最重要的是，该项目将改善研究人员、教育工作者和学生以前无法接触到的三大具有科学重要性的无脊椎动物和最近软体动物化石收藏的可及性，从而对未来的研究计划和全国范围的古生物研究产生直接影响。

The Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) is the world's only private research organization dedicated solely to the science of paleontology. It houses major collections of invertebrate fossils and Recent mollusks and one of the nation's largest collections of type and figured fossil specimens. Due to the lack of permanent curation and storage facilities, the collections have been allowed to deteriorate, and have been inaccessible to the research and educational communities for many years. PRI has embarked upon an effort to replace and expand current facilities in order to consolidate collections of the Institution, Cornell University, and the University of Rochester. Specifically, funds from the Academic Research Infrastructure Program will enable PRI to replace existing space that is in poor condition presently used to house the collections. For the first time in almost a century, this project will provide the needed space to adequately house and care for collections, and make them available for research use. As a result, the combined collection would be one of the largest and finest in the nation, with particular strengths in the Cenozoic of the Western Hemisphere and Paleozoic of the Northeastern US. These are both areas of considerable current research interest in the areas of environmental and faunal change. As the largest fossil collection within a 250 mile radius, the combined collection would have the potential to serve as a regional and national center for paleobiological research and education. Most importantly, this project will improve accessibility of three large and scientifically important collections of fossil invertebrate and Recent mollusks to researchers, educators, and students who have previously not had access to them, thus having a direct effect on future research programs, and paleontological research on a national scale.