PARTNERING TO PRESERVE THE PAST: THE IMPORTANCE OF VOLUNTEERS IN PROMOTING AND ADVANCING PALEONTOLOGICAL SCIENCE AND OUTREACH

The science of paleontology inspires members of the general public to a greater excitement and interest about scientific endeavors overall. Few other sciences combine the excitement of discovery with a fascination for the exotic and a sense of wonder about the natural world. Because of this high public visibility, paleontologists have a rare opportunity to employ their own investigative foci in promoting the importance of both paleontology and science in general.

Perhaps the most significant and impactful manner in which members of the general public can participate in the science of paleontology is through volunteering. No other methods of outreach – classes, museum displays, lectures, online presentations, etc. – offer the same thrill of “hands on” learning that volunteering can provide. Working as a volunteer affords members of the public an opportunity, not only to see and touch, but to actively engage as citizen scientists with actual objects of scientific investigation. More, volunteers can potentially contribute in a meaningful and significant way; many important discoveries in paleontology, whether in the field or in museums and collections, are made by volunteers. Volunteers can also act as informal ambassadors for science, promoting the importance of fossils and paleontological research - and science itself - within their communities. Finally, in many cases volunteers take the next step and strive to become professional paleontologists themselves - at which time what they learned as volunteers pays off in directly advancing paleontological science.

With this in mind, paleontologists should make every effort to design, implement, and promote opportunities for members of the general public to work with fossils in a volunteer capacity. A focus on ensuring that volunteers engage directly with the fossils, rather than being only peripherally connected, is essential for fully realizing the benefits that an active, well trained, and enthusiastic volunteer force can provide.