Description
Book SynopsisThis book is devoted to 250 years of collecting, organizing and preserving paleontological specimens by generations of scientists. Paleontological collections are a huge resource for modern research and should be available for national and international scientists and institutions, as well as prospective public and private customers. These collections are an important part of the scientific enterprise, supporting research, public education, and the documentation of past biodiversity. Much of what we are beginning to understand about our world, we owe to the collection, preservation, and ongoing study of natural specimens. Properly preserved collections of fossil marine or terrestrial plants and animals are archives of Earth's history and vital to our ability to learn about our place in its future.
The approach employed by the editors involves not only an introduction to the paleontological collections in general, but also information on the international and national collection networks. Particular attention is given to new exhibition concepts and approaches of sorting, preserving and researching in paleontological collections and also their neglect and/or threat. In addition, the book provides information on all big public museums, on important state museums and regional Museums, and also on university collections.
This is a highly informative and carefully presented book, providing scientific insight for readers with an interest in fossil record, biodiversity, taxonomy, or evolution, as well as natural history collections at large.
Table of ContentsTable of contents
Lothar A. Beck, Ulrich Joger: Official collections and private collectors – an introduction to an diverse field of interests?
Hans-Dieter Sues: Germany’s Paleontological Collections: An international view on an important historical and contemporary scientific resource
Michael Amler: Modern trends in paleontological methods of sorting, preserving and research
Volker Storch / Friedemann Schrenk: The human fossil record in middle Europe (H. erectus, H. heidelbergensis, H. neanderthalensis, H. sapiens,)
Peter Rothe: Famous findings and world heritage localities (e.g. Archaeopteryx, “Urpferdchen”, Andrias scheuchzeri , “Liebespaar von Tambach” , Mastodonsaurus, Eomanis, Darwinius, Homo sp. )etc.
Uwe Moldrzyk/Kathrin Vohland : Modern exhibition concepts , exhibitions accompanied by research, citizen sciences in palaentology
Paleontological Collections in Germany, Austria, Switzerland:
All big Public Research Museums and most of the Collections in regional Country and local District Museums as well as University collections.
All paleontological collections which contribute to this compilation should give information on the following aspects as far as possible
-Year of foundation, and age of parts of the collection
-What happened during World War I and II
-Today´s conditions of infrastructure (staff, rooms, laboratories, exhibitions, financial support, perspectives)
-Number of species and/or specimens, focal points
-National and international network and research
-Examples of today´s research, potencies
-Publications, written or other used new media
-Publication, done by lectures, workshops, meetings, expeditions
-Didactic conceptions of exhibitions,
-Promotion of junior staff
Appendix
Acknowledgements
