Fossil Preparation Methods

Fossil preparation skills are among the best ways for students to get early, hands-on experience working in a professional paleontology lab space and to gain a greater understanding of the processes involved in bringing a fossil from the field and then placing it within a museum collection for research. Students will be introduced to a wide variety of these tools and methods used to clean and stabilize fossils at the Sternberg Museum’s new fossil prep lab facility. Emphasis is placed on practicing the cleaning, reassembly, and protection techniques for fossil material; all of these are required steps before any fossil can be used for research or display. Removing the rock surrounding fossil material, using combinations of small dental tools, airscribes, and pin tools is just the start. Preparators must also be experts with various glues and adhesives for reconstructing and reinforcing the fossils. Before the fossils can finally be transferred into research collections, supporting cradles must be built to protect the fossil so that the specimens can be properly handled and transported by collections staff. Finally, making a mold and replica cast of a fossil can aid in exhibit design or scientific research. All the work done in the fossil prep lab is extremely important to the science and work done on any collected fossil specimen. Tuition is $570 per Sternberg Museum member, and $640 per non-member. Application process includes: application, statement of interest, letter of recommendation.