A joint project between the Fort Hays State University Sternberg Museum of Natural History and the Forsyth Library is bringing fossils into the digital age with 3-D technology. The Hays Daily News reported Sternberg employees handle the fossils, while students photograph them at the museum. Students return with the photos to the library to complete the 3-D process. Scanning allows the viewer to rotate the specimen digitally, rather than looking at multiple photos.
Most specimens in the museum's compilation are not on display. Digitizing the images, and placing them online offers another way for the collection to be seen. John Ross, library director, says he envisions students of all ages, from all over the world, using the web to access the information. He says it is a tool for teachers that takes the collection out of the museum and into the classroom. You can see the online collection at fhsu.edu/library in the digital collection.
