[Nhcoll-l] outsourcing specimen prep-let's broaden the conversation

[Elizabeth Merritt]

This has been a very interesting discussion: the museum field seems to go through cycles in outsourcing and insourcing things like exhibit construction and security, but I've never seen the debate extend to specimen preparation before.

Would anyone like to contribute to a guest post on the Center for the Future of Museums blog on the topic? It would be nice to have someone arguing the "pro" side (as Judy says-making use of semi-retired experts, trained amateurs, etc.) and a counterpoint with the "cons." Contact me at emerritt at aam-us.org<mailto:emerritt at aam-us.org> if you are interested. Also-I'll be at the SPNHC meetings in New Haven this Friday and Saturday.

Yours from the future,

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Merritt
Founding Director, Center for the Future of Museums
T: 202.218. 7661  |  F: 202.289.6578
American Association of Museums
1575 Eye Street N.W., Suite 400  |  Washington, DC 20005





From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Chupasko, Judy
Sent: Friday, June 08, 2012 5:53 PM
To: Desjardins, R.B.; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] outsourcing specimen prep

Hi Becky,
While I agree with what everyone is saying on this list-serve, out-sourcing specimen preparation and the quality of work/data expected etc. would entirely depend on whom you hired to prepare the specimens. I would thoroughly check the background/experience of the person, as well as, try to hire an expert in the appropriate field.   I myself, have thought about doing consultant work, once semi-retired, on this very topic.  I have been collecting/preparing/conserving/managing mammal specimens/collections for over 25 years. I have prepared everything from beached whales to tiny shrews, both in laboratory and field conditions, I take copious notes during necropsies of EVERY specimen, as well as tons of measurements, I save complete skeletons, make high quality study skins or hides, save tissues, parasites, embryos, record stomach contents, etc.  I also try to train/teach as many people as possible in these techniques.......I think that is VERY important in this day and age. Specimen preparation is a dying art in my opinion, especially when so many mammalogy/biology courses are not able to or refrain from collecting/dissecting animals (health and safety regulations, ethical considerations, etc.).
My two cents, :) Judy

Judith M. Chupasko, Curatorial Associate
Department of Mammalogy
Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology
26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Mass. 02138
617-495-2469
jchupasko at oeb.harvard.edu<mailto:jchupasko at oeb.harvard.edu>

From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Desjardins, R.B.
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2012 8:00 AM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] outsourcing specimen prep

Hello all;

Upper management at my institute would like to being outsourcing all specimen preparation:  study skins of vertebrates, spirits for herps and fish, paleo and geo, inverts, everything (except plants, maybe) to save money.   I was curious if any other institutes  has done this or has experience with anything like this?  Personally, I think it is a bad idea (and it seems most folks here agree) but I would love to know if anyone is trying this.

Thanks,

Becky Desjardins

NCB Naturalis
Leiden, Netherlands
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