Workshop: Paleocollections Digitization Workshop to be held April 26-28, 2012 in Gainesville, FL

古生物学通常是许多美国自然历史博物馆收藏的核心研究重点，但迄今为止，古生物学收藏界对标本和收藏信息的数字化的参与程度低于新生物学。iDigBio -综合数字化生物收藏，推进生物收藏数字化的国家资源-将举办一个研讨会，以解决整个美国古生物收藏界的数字化需求，机遇和重大挑战。允许一个论坛的对话和古生物学收藏的子学科之间的沟通（脊椎动物，无脊椎动物，古植物，和微体化石）. 2.目前正在进行的数字化举措之间的新生物学收藏界的例子和目前资助的数字化项目的例子。促进古生物学和新生物学收藏界之间的对话，以促进收集数据的整合。促进对馆藏数字化需求、优先事项和古生物社区的重大贡献的讨论。美国机构收藏的生物标本的馆藏信息对研究、教育和理解生物多样性模式具有巨大价值。综合生物收集数据-从古生物标本和新生物标本？因此，可以用于制定生物多样性的保护，管理和公共政策。将包括四名古收藏研究生。这些学生将有机会与古社区的专业人士会面，并将能够参与制定古收藏数字化的愿景。

Paleontology is often a core research emphasis of many U.S. natural history museum collections, but to date, the paleocollections community has been less engaged in digitization of specimens and collection information than its neontological counterpart. iDigBio - Integrated Digitized Biocollections, the National Resource for Advancing Digitization of Biological Collections - will conduct a workshop to address the digitization needs, opportunities, and Grand Challenges of the paleontological collections community throughout the U.S.The specific goals of this workshop are to:1. Allow a forum for dialog and communication among the paleontological collections subdisciplines (vertebrate, invertebrate, paleobotanical, and microfossils).2. Present examples of on-going digitization initiatives among the neontological collections communities and examples of currently funded digitization projects.3. Facilitate dialog between the paleo- and neontological collections communities to promote integration of collection data.4. Facilitate a discussion of the collections digitization needs, priorities, and Grand Challengesfor the paleo community.Collection information for biological specimens housed in U.S. institutions holds tremendous value for research, education, and understanding patterns of biodiversity. Integrated biocollection data - from both paleo- and neontological specimens ? can therefore be used for developing conservation, management, and public policy for biodiversity. Four graduate students in paleocollections will be included. These students will have the opportunity to meet professionals in the paleo community and will be able to participate in developing a vision for digitization of paleocollections.