Meet the National Museum of Natural History Volunteer Preserving Prehistory One Microfossil at a Time

Carlos Savignano is part of a dedicated group of FossiLab volunteers preparing Smithsonian fossils for display and future research

Buzzing hand drills, clinking metal tools and whirring dust collectors create a cacophony of sound inside the National Museum of Natural History’s FossiLab. Careful hands pick specks of dirt from a delicate fossil fish spine as a plaster specimen jacket is custom-built on a table nearby. 

Museum visitors often assume that the individuals working behind the lab’s glass windows are professional fossil preparators. But they are actually dedicated volunteers who have spent countless hours mastering the art of fossil preservation to ensure these ancient specimens remain intact for future scientific study.

The museum’s FossiLab, which is located in the “David H. Koch Hall of Fossils - Deep Time” offers a unique opportunity for preparators to display intricate features of fossils and showcase the importance of paleontological research to the public. Projects include cleaning fossils with handheld jackhammers, building giant archival cradles to store and support big specimens and searching for tiny micro fossils under a microscope.

“The volunteers in the lab play an extremely important role here,” said Myria Perez, a fossil preparator who manages the FossiLab. “They are highly trained and highly skilled at different tasks, allowing us to make significant progress on our fossil preparation, collections and preservation work.”

In celebration of National Volunteer Week, Smithsonian Voices interviewed passionate FossiLab volunteer Carlos Savignano, who has spent more than eight years working with the museum’s Department of Paleobiology.

What got you interested in volunteering for the museum’s FossiLab?

Years ago, I came to the museum to visit with an old friend. We stopped by the FossiLab and marveled as a group of volunteers uncovered a specimen from rock. One of the volunteers came out to talk with us, explaining how she had been expecting to find dinosaur bones. Instead, she had found this beautiful piece of shell. We stared at it for 20 minutes, and finally the volunteer came out and asked us ‘do you want to volunteer?’ I didn't even know that was a possibility, but I jumped at the opportunity and applied. Now I'm here!

What is your main role and specialty in the FossiLab?

In the lab, I work mainly with digital imagery. That means using microscopes to take detailed photos of type specimens. This helps grow the Smithsonian’s digital collections. I also enjoy picking microfossils, which requires me to separate tiny specimens from dirt. These fossils could never be detected out in the field, but our work in the lab will help scientists gather as much information about ancient ecosystems as possible.

What is your favorite project from your time in the FossiLab?

One of my favorite projects was working with samples from a 65-million-year-old lake site, given to the Smithsonian by a private collector. The samples contained everything that existed in the lake at that time, and we found all kinds of interesting creatures. We were tasked with taking pictures to digitize the collection and gather evidence about how the entire ecosystem may have worked millions of years ago. I had the chance to take the final picture of the whole collection, and it was amazing to see the conclusion of a project that lasted more than three years. 

Do you have a background in paleontology?

I actually do not have a background in paleontology. My job is much different then the work I do in the FossiLab. I work in an international institution called the Inter American Development Bank (IDB). We finance development projects in Latin America. I am an IT scientist in the communications division, in charge of the websites for the whole institution. The IT skills I have learned from my job help me a lot when it comes to digitizing samples in the lab. I love how my job at the IDB and the work I do in the FossiLab both make an impact on the world in very different ways. 

Why do you volunteer? What does it mean to you?

I have always done volunteer work ever since I was in high school. I used to volunteer at a public hospital in my home country of Venezuela. Then, I moved to America and started volunteering at the Smithsonian. This opportunity has been incredible because it adds value to not just the Smithsonian but also the entire scientific community. I am contributing to something that has a global reach.

What impact do the FossiLab volunteers have on the museum community?

Most little kids dream of becoming a firefighter, a doctor, or to dig up dinosaurs. But we tend to lose that excitement and curiosity over the years. Life distracts us, and we forget how important and amazing science is. I never thought I would get the opportunity to work with fossils, but having the chance to do this is great. 

Volunteer work at the Smithsonian has a reach that you cannot even imagine. Every single year, over four million people walk into the National Museum of Natural History. This may be the only place where the work you do has an impact on millions of visitors, showing them the value of paleontology and scientific research.

What is a memorable moment from working in the FossiLab?

I had a bunch of work colleagues come to the museum with their kids to visit me while I was volunteering once. They had the kids come up to ask me questions. 

Halfway through the conversation, it was very interesting to see the parents start to get involved. The adults were asking questions and getting just as excited as their kids. It got to the point where one of the kids had to say, ‘Mom, come on, let’s go. I want to finish seeing the museum!’ 

The visit shifted to the parents rediscovering their inspiration and wonder for science. Another example of how everyday life makes us forget about our curiosities. Seeing the kids’ eyes pop is already a win, but watching adults find that excitement as well is just an amazing moment. 

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Meet a SI-entist: The Smithsonian is so much more than its world-renowned exhibits and artifacts. It is a hub of scientific exploration for hundreds of researchers from around the world. Once a month, we’ll introduce you to a Smithsonian Institution scientist (or SI-entist) and the fascinating work they do behind the scenes at the National Museum of Natural History.

Alec Quinn | Read More

Alec Quinn is a current Museum Studies Graduate Student at George Washington University with an Undergraduate degree in Paleontology from Appalachian State University. She currently volunteers in FossiLab as a prepator and scientific drawer. She also volunteers with the Sundance Fossil Insect Collection at the Smithsonian. Outside of museum and paleontology work she is a stand up comedian in DC.