Archive: Around Town

The Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) has been awarded a $350,000 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Academic Research Infrastructure grant program, which will allow funding for the renovation of four research labs over the course of the next year.  Including this grant, PRI has received over $1 million in funding from the National Science Foundation as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

HOLT Architects of Ithaca is partnering with PRI on the renovation project, which has the goal of renovating existing spaces to create four state-of-the-art science labs by next summer.  This partnership will be advantageous to the project by increasing collaborative research and research training efforts within PRI.

Each of the four new laboratories will have a unique function. BioLab, available for “clean” activities using microscopes and chemicals, and PaleoLab, an area for “dirty” geological procedures, such as rock sawing and sieving sediment, will be basic, flexible, general-use spaces, allowing for their use to be tailored to the needs of resident staff at PRI.  WetLab will house 15-25 five to ten gallon tanks on adjustable shelving and will include appropriate drains and ventilation for the maintenance of living aquatic organisms.  The final renovation, PrepLab, is actually an update of the existing fossil Preparation Laboratory located within the Museum of the Earth as a part of its permanent exhibits.  The new PrepLab will have improved ventilation and work flow, and, more importantly, will improve the overall experience for the public visiting the Museum by creating more interaction with scientists and volunteer preparators.

“These renovations will substantially improve the ability of PRI’s research staff to carry out collaborative original research and research training, elements that are critical to cutting-edge participation in the fields of biodiversity, phylogenetics, paleontology, and evolutionary biology,” stated Dr. Paula Mikkelsen, PRI’s associate director for science. “The new laboratories will create a set of modern, functional, adaptable, and safe shared spaces, and will greatly improve the availability and efficiency of use of existing optical, analytical, preparatory, and other equipment meeting modern safety and infrastructure standards. The proposed renovation will position PRI to leverage its collections, research, and outreach strengths in 21st century paleobiology, by building basic infrastructure to support current research and allow PRI to sustain and advance its level of competitive, fundable research into the future.”

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