This process quickly weakens fossils that have survived for millions of years in the safety of rock, and is "very much" a problem, says Peter Sheehan, geology curator at the Milwaukee Public Museum. "Some fossils are in a very tough rock, but with vertebrate fossils in particular, they may be on the surface one or two years, and then they're gone. You see that all the time -- in the badlands, they will wash away with the first big storm." That not only irreversibly separates single specimens, but also jumbles together fossils from many eras.
So how to take advantage of amateurs? How to bring in the large number of what Westphal calls "very capable individuals who don't have the academic credentials, but who are very highly qualified?"
Sheehan, who says present restrictions on collecting on federal land are too complex and restrictive, says "most amateurs want their finds to be noticed and used -- that's part of the thrill of collecting." He suggests some form of collaboration that would allow scientists to monitor the finds of amateurs. "When fossils are found on public land, the scientists who are interested in that group could determine if they're unique or run-of-the-mill." Such a process could protect the rare discoveries of rare animals, or of representatives of important periods in prehistory when "animals were radiating (defined). "Then," Sheehan says, "you could decide what to do with them."
Woodburne acknowledges the value of amateur contributions to paleontology, but says the way to "grab hold of them is to recognize and publicize the fact that many educational and scientific institutions have vigorous outreach programs to encourage amateurs to work with the institution -- to be extra eyes on the ground."
The Denver Museum of Natural History operates a model certification program for amateurs, which has graduated close to 100 people. According to Richard Stucky, the museum's curator, the goal is "to professionalize the amateurs, rather than amateurize the professionals." In other words, it is designed to avoid the kind of activity seen "at gem and mineral shows," Stucky says, "where the information [on specimens] is practically zero -- a general age and a general location." Most paleontologists, he says, "feel that specific age and location data are key -- you can use that information to figure out what the specimen is telling you about natural history. It's negligence to not put information on a specimen."
Eight courses, including fossil preparation, curation, and a field course, are required for the certificate, which Stucky likens to an associate degree in paleontology. Certificate-holders "have just as good qualifications, and are probably more conscientious than many professionals," Stucky says.
Last year, 200 volunteers, including present and wanna-be certificate holders, contributed 25,000 hours of work to museum projects, he adds. The federal Bureau of Land Management has recently begun allowing certificate-holders to work without direct supervision on BLM Land for which the museum has a permit.
Earthwatch "hires" amateur scientists for paleontology and just about any kind of field research you can imagine.
For his part, Westphal suggests some form of licensing, under the direction of a licensing board. But instead of automatically requiring course work, the board would also license people who, "through prior work, have proven they understand the ethics of collecting.... and are competent to work on federal land."
