Reorganization and computerization of the non-type systematic mollusk collection of 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。古生物研究所（PRI）的藏品包括200万至300万件标本，是美国十大最具科学意义的化石收藏之一。然而，该收藏的骨干，其非模式分类软体动物收藏（估计约150万件标本），尚未完全处于其重要性和价值的资源的最低限度可接受的条件。25%至30%的系统性软体动物保持在不利的储存条件下，对标本有潜在的危险。该提案寻求对国际刑法改革协会非类型系统软体动物收集的重组、管理和开始计算机化的支持，这将有助于科学界长期使用。研究结果将在国际刑法改革协会的网站上公布，网址是：www.pricollectionsdatabase.org。这一重组也极有可能在短期内对目前活跃的古生物学和保护古生物学研究领域产生重大影响，该领域将地质历史数据应用于与人类引起的环境变化有关的当今问题。 PRI是地球科学教育计划的国家领导者，从软体动物收集的标本将用于通知和支持各种教育推广计划。特别是，本提案中所述的活动将支持建立教师专业发展方案，以支持中学科学教师使用实践和探究式教学。关键的概念是，研究收藏品对于检验有关生物进化和地球系统历史的假设至关重要。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).The collection of the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) includes two to three million specimens and is among the ten largest and most scientifically important fossil collections in the United States. However, the backbone of the collection, its non-type systematic mollusk collection (estimated at about 1.5 million specimens), is not yet fully at a minimally acceptable condition for a resource of its importance and value. Between 25 and 30% of the systematic mollusk holdings remain in unfavorable storage conditions that are potentially hazardous for the specimens. This proposal seeks support for the reorganization, curation, and beginning computerization of PRI's non-type systematic mollusk collection, which will facilitate its long-term use by the scientific community. Results will be made available on PRI's website at www.pricollectionsdatabase.org. This reorganization is also highly likely to have significant impact in the short term on a currently active research area in paleontology and conservation paleobiology which applies geo-historical data to present-day problems related to human-induced environmental change. PRI is a national leader in Earth science educational programming, and specimens from the mollusk collection will be used to inform and support various educational outreach programs. In particular, the activity described in this proposal will support the establishment of a teacher professional development program to support secondary school science teachers in using hands-on, inquiry-based teaching. The key concept will be that research collections are critical to testing hypotheses about biological evolution and the history of Earth systems.