Collection care laboratories
Preservation, digitisation and secure handling of collection items
The collection care laboratories at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin form a central infrastructure for the processing, examination and long-term preservation of collection objects. They are available to the museum’s research groups, technical staff, as well as national and international visiting researchers and early-career researchers.
The focus is on the digital cataloguing and conservation management of the museum’s historical wet collections, some of whose objects are up to 300 years old. In addition, the laboratories support the preparation of new acquisitions as well as the preparation and processing of national and international loan transactions. The modern equipment enables the safe handling of hazardous biological and chemical substances, as well as contaminated collection items, which pose particular challenges due to historical preparation and conservation techniques.
What are the collection care laboratories used for?
The care laboratories are particularly suitable for:
- conservation treatment and long-term preservation of collection objects
- digital cataloguing of historical wet collections
- preparation and processing of new acquisitions
- preparing and processing interlibrary loans
- comparative morphological studies
- Conservation science issues
- Workshops and training courses on collection care and the shipment of hazardous goods
Contact
Frank Tillack
Head of Laboratory
Email: frank.tillack@mfn.berlin
Telephone: +49 30 889140-8539
Edda Aßel
Laboratory Assistant
Email: edda.assel@mfn.berlin
Telephone: +49 30 889140-8666
Use and collaboration
The laboratory facilities are available to museum staff, students, PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and visiting scholars. Use is permitted within the framework of joint projects and subject to prior arrangement.
External researchers may also use the collection conservation laboratories as part of collaborative projects. This is subject to the research being relevant to the museum’s collections and research questions, and subject to available capacity.
For enquiries regarding the processing of collection objects or the development of joint projects, please contact the relevant contact person.
Features
- Six workstations for stereomicroscopy
- Two workstations with Leica Microtome VT1200S
- Reproduction facility for photographic documentation
- Film sealing machine for preparing interlibrary loans
- Safety equipment for handling hazardous substances
Laboratory procedures and analytical methods
- Collection care and conservation
- Conservation treatment of wet collections
- Digital recording of collection items
- Comparative morphological studies
- Conservation research
- Preparation of collection material for interlibrary loans
- Packaging and dispatch of dangerous goods in accordance with international guidelines