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

包括古生物学收藏在内的自然历史收藏品为生物科学研究提供了基础资源。 授予辛辛那提博物馆中心（CMC）转让和保护明尼苏达大学（UM）古生物学收藏品，包括15,000多个无脊椎动物和5,500个脊椎动物化石标本。 由于缺乏管理，储存条件差，以及即将被转移到异地储存，这些收藏品目前处于危险之中。 该项目将联合美国中西部两个具有科学意义的收藏品，并促进实现两个主要目标：（1）在具有适当气候控制条件的专用存储设施中保护收藏品，以及（2）将收藏品策划和传播给科学界和更广泛的研究和教育界。 古生物学藏品激发了公众的想象力，并激励了下一代科学家。 辛辛那提有着悠久的古生物学研究和教育历史，始于19世纪中期。 这一传统将在本项目下继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，（7至14岁）有机会成为“一天馆长”，并在博物馆的幕后与真实的物品和科学家在协作环境中工作的真实体验。该项目的重点是物理转移，重新安置，数字化，和传播一个具有科学意义和濒危的UM古生物收藏。 UM收藏品包含了显着高比例的模式和数字标本。 分类学、地理学和地层学的重叠，以及UM和辛辛那提博物馆中心（CMC）古生物学收藏之间的历史联系，使CMC成为容纳和照顾UM孤儿收藏的自然场所。 由于CMC的收藏是动态的和不断增长的，这种转移将成倍增加的知名度，使用和访问UM古生物学收藏。 该奖项有利于一个专门的工作人员的支持，以监督该项目的策展要求。 标本将被编目，输入CMC现有的电子数据库，并整合到CMC当前的收藏。 此外，UM标本将进行成像，地理参考，并共享数字数据到CMC的网站（www.cincymuseum.org/research/invertebrate）和iDigBio（iDigBio.org）。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

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.