Q: Why do you think that scientists collect those specimens?

A: Primarily for their personal research and not for the benefit of museums and public education.

Q: Why do you think that museums dedicate huge amounts of money to maintaining facilities to store and preserve those specimens?

A: Most natural history museums don’t have large permanent collections comprised of hundreds of tons of available fossils, and more importantly, fewer still create permanent displays with those specimens to inform the public. Increasingly, science museums are replacing “cabinet displays” with interactive computers, animated characters, IMAX
theaters and larger gift shops. Collections based presentations are considered too static to generate high volume ticket sales,
because many curators believe that they are required to dazzle the public and must “compete” for family entertainment dollars against theme parks and sporting events. I think this is a competition they can’t win, as museum ticket prices spiral higher and higher. Isn’t the over-hyping of science the core issue of this forum?

Frankly, my personal collection of paleozoic fauna is more extensive and better documented than any of the museums in our area, except for the UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology – which is a research facility and closed to the public.
When I’ve inquired about developing a temporary display using these private specimens, at my expense – I’ve been told by museum directors that they have no interest, no space available and they question the marketing value of undertaking such a project. A few times, I’ve often been told that personal ownership of fossils isn’t in the public interest – and that my collection belongs in a museum! OK , where?
I’ve offered to bring specimens to public schools or to set up small displays in libraries (again, for free) but I’m told by teachers and those in charge that presentations about fossils sometimes lead to complaints from Christian conservative parents (and church groups) concerning forcing belief in evolution on students… more often than not, there are concerns about not making “waves” and few have been willing to take the risk. Over and over again, in the public eye, we downplay the paleontological and geological evidence for evolution and an ancient earth… or we undermine it through reckless public relations and infighting.

My Question: Can we both agree that much more could be done to inform the public about paleontological discoveries, considering the vast quantity of fossils unearthed every year?

Best Regards
Steve

… das anthropologische Äquivalent des Heiligen Grals und die wichtigste Entdeckung seit 47 Millionen Jahren, die alles ändern wird? Richtig, Darwinius masillae, ein urzeitliches Primätchen, 58 Zentimeter lang und vor 47 Millionen Jahren im zar…

Researchers got sucked into a TV production, rushed their publication to meet a deadline a week before the show is to air, and then let themselves get swept into a media frenzy that has seriously distorted, misrepresented, and even lied about what th…

My point was that there are enough fossil specimens already collected to present a decent “life through time” exhibit at a museum in every major and minor metropolitan area in the USA.

Why do you think that scientists collect those specimens? Why do you think that museums dedicate huge amounts of money to maintaining facilities to store and preserve those specimens?

The facts are it was released at a press conference and the material made available for reporters too do there job, I fail to see how journalists can possibly justify the disgraceful attitude that if people will not give (or have time to give) them pre-information they will simply make things up then blame others for there lies and hype because they did not give them the real information.