Information for Preparation

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

The lab was originally designed as a modern birds and mammals prep lab, and had to be slightly retrofitted to accommodate fossils vertebrates. Thus, some elements are lacking still, there is no hoist, sediment trap, or air abrasion space. It also has a few design kinks, like an emergency shower but no floor drain. Worse still, there are electrical outlets in the floors! However, it is a very workable lab space.

Paul Brinkman is the first full time preparator at the Museum, so we're still working out what is prepared in the lab. We have a fairly large collection of fossils, which is particularly strong in terrestrial vertebrates from the North Carolina Triassic (thus, fine red dust is a constant problem in the lab). Last summer we initiated a Cretaceous dinosaur field program which we're expecting to yield big returns over the next few years - so Paul also works on big dinosaur material in this lab. The Museum of Natural Sciences is planning a building expansion beginning in about two or three years which will offer the opportunity to design a brand new, bigger and better equipped lab. Paul is hoping to get a skylight - considering how great natural light is for prepping fossils!