The Airless project aims to carry out preventive conservation treatments to protect those palaeontological specimens held at the Natural History Museum considered to be at highest risk from pyrite oxidation. This includes specimens from all areas of the collection, from brachiopods to ichthyosaurs.
Working as part of a team, the successful candidate will transport specimens from the storage area, undertake remedial treatment if required and re-house the specimens in individual anoxic enclosures. This will involve handling very delicate, as well as large, heavy specimens. The project also requires digitisation of conservation records and images through the collection management system, barcodes and web-based applications. We are looking for self-motivated individuals who show a high degree of manual dexterity and attention to detail, and have the ability to maintain focus and accuracy. Training will be given for specialised treatments.
The data produced by this project will also contribute to future digitisation projects undertaken by the curatorial staff.