Evaluation and certification of fossil preparators: ideas for the future

Matthew Brown
Petrified Forest National Park
and
John Kane
University of Heidelberg

Increased levels of specialization in the field of paleontology along with new methods of collecting and analyzing data from fossil specimens require a large body of knowledge and breadth of skill from fossil preparators. In order to advance the science of vertebrate paleontology, preparators must hold themselves personally and as a community to high standards of quality, safety, and ethics. Currently there is no widely accepted curriculum of training or standard of best practice for the prep lab, but many other professions demonstrate effective models. Evaluating and adopting these models while incorporating elements of successful existing institutional programs allows us to create a plan for professional development. This presentation examines the roles of educational institutions, professional associations, and the individual lab in training and evaluation of fossil preparators.

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