SUMMARY - CURATORIAL FACILITIES

Representatives from the University of Rhode Island, British Ocean Sediment Core Repository, Oregon State University, US Geological Survey, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Ocean Drilling Program, and the Limnological Research Center (University of Minnesota) presented overviews of their curatorial operations. Attendees exchanged information about the history and development of their collections, existing facilities and equipment, types of collections and regions from which they were amassed, staffing and funding sources, types of data routinely collected, development and access to databases, special analytical equipment, sample distribution policies, and educational aspects.

TOOLS AND FACILITIES

Most repositories maintain sediment cores in refrigerated units at about 4 degrees C (and have additional dry-storage facilities). Most have laboratories with areas for core analysis, describing, core photography; some have multisensor-logging capabilities. OSU contains its multisensor logging unit in a portable van which may be placed on sea-going vessels allow for both sea- and shore-based logging. ODP has a pass-through cryogenic magnetometer adjacent to the Gulf Coast Repository, for shore-based paleomagnetic analyses of repository cores; it is in the process of constructing a multi-sensor tract at the Gulf Coast Repository for archive-half logging. Most repositories have shore-based core-splitting and rock-cutting tools in addition to reflected light and/or petrographic microscopes. Most repositories have some work space set aside for affiliated researchers or visiting scientists.

Much discussion during the curatorial presentations involved new multi-sensor core logging systems (see report, below).

All repositories face the real or potential problem of requiring additional space to accommodate new collections. In general, however, the repositories with growing collections have the means to expand, either to build or add modular units (URI) or to expand into undeveloped space in pre-existing areas. USGS-Menlo Park has the additional problem of repairing damage caused in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and ensuring personnel and core safety during future earthquakes.

SHIPS

ODP drilling operations are carried on aboard the JOIDES Resolution, leased from SEDCO, the drilling subcontractor. Most US marine-coring institutions share the US oceanographic fleet under the scheduling supervision of UNOLS, as well as collecting from "ships of opportunity." The University of Minnesota group takes advantage of "ships of opportunity" to core sediments from lakes around the world.

SAMPLE DISTRIBUTION POLICY

Sample distribution policies are reasonably consistent, including review by the curator, principal investigator, a review committee or some combination thereof. Most contained a "PI statement" granting the cruise principal investigator exclusive rights to cruise samples for a specified period or rights to review all requests for a specified period. ODP does not allow distribution of samples to "subsequent requestors" until 12 months following termination of a cruise. Most requests received are appropriately for scientific study; some are for special educational projects or displays; curators reject those for purely commercial or non-scientific use.

DATA

All represented repositories collect, and make available, core data to interested scientists and to the public at large. Most represented repositories make data available through the Internet accessible Index to Marine Geological Samples ("Curators' database") developed by the Curators' group and maintained by NCEI/WDS for Geophysics. Several of the participating repositories also maintain local databases containing additional data and information accessible through Internet links.

Guy Rothwell reported that at present no central database exists for European core data. EuroCore is a cooperative effort to address this problem by developing a consistent and comprehensive database for marine cores collected by, and held in European institutions. Current partners include organizations/institutions from Great Britain, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, France, and Portugal. EuroCore will join with EUMARSIN, another joint European consortium to centralize geological data, under a common, as yet to be determined name. EuroCore and EUMARSIN have different missions, with EUMARSIN responsible for core data only from European seas and the European continental shelf, including from the European Geological Survey, and EuroCore for the data collected from the World's oceans by European ships and held in European Institutions.

Guy Rothwell has invited Carla Moore to attend a database planning meeting for EuroCore in January 2000.

ORGANIZATION/FUNDING

Leadership and direction usually comes from senior scientists with specific research interests, who, in some cases receive only partial support for their curatorial effort. Staff comprises students (undergraduate to Ph.D. candidates), professional curatorial personnel, and post-doctoral appointees. Cruise principal investigators sometimes provide additional scientific and descriptive contributions. Some, (or in some cases, most), funding for the US repositories comes from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Office of Naval Research (ONR), US Government, with some added contributions from industry and respective universities. The UK BOSCOR repository is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). US curators encourage promoting "greater visibility" among funding agencies to ensure conservation and maintenance of irreplaceable collections.

EDUCATIONAL POLICIES

Educational aspects ranged from extensive interaction supporting Ph.D. programs to learning situations for a range of grade school to undergraduate students. Students are, or may be, involved in developing tools, techniques and software applicable to curatorial operations, website learning and in other visual and hands-on demonstrations. Some curators saw possibilities in expanding to more educational services and tapping funding resources available for such.

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