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）的四个研究空间的翻新，以创建一套现代化，功能，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。翻新将使PRI能够利用其在21世纪世纪古生物学中的收藏，研究和推广优势，通过建立基本的基础设施来支持当前的研究，并使PRI能够维持和推进其未来的尖端，可资助的研究水平。 将被翻新的实验室包括：生物实验室，这将是PRI的“清洁实验室”，用于显微镜工作（包括解剖、微化石处理、分类散装样品等）; WetLab（=水族馆实验室），将作为PRI的“生活室”，用于维护活的水生无脊椎动物（在目前的配置下，将不会保留水生或陆生脊椎动物）; PaleoLab，将成为PRI的“脏实验室”，用于处理野外采集和粗略的标本制备;和PrepLab，它将致力于精细的试样制备，使用旋转工具和空气磨损（小型喷砂），并用于试样成型和铸造。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是在参观公众通过三个大窗户进入博物馆画廊的全景。几乎所有的研究在PRI有外展组件内置到它。PRI有一个杰出的和雄心勃勃的外展计划，使其标本收藏广泛使用，以帮助K-12，公众，大学观众更好地理解历史科学的本质。实验室改造将使PRI能够大大改善和扩大现有的计划，达到公众，学校团体，教师和其他人。翻修将有助于通过互动标本制备将博物馆参观者“带入实验室”。 PRI还将记录实验室活动与正在进行的研究，使用内部技术，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.