Conservation
The Collections Services Department of the Science Museum of Minnesota is committed to the preservation of collections for scientific research and public display.
The conservation program cares for the entire range of collections, which vary greatly from ethnographic textiles to dinosaurs, from bird skins and eggs to stone tools and metals, and from specimens stored in alcohol to mounted insects. Collections care at the Science Museum focuses on preventing damage to the collections. This entails such things as modifying environmental and physical conditions, improving storage and exhibition techniques, and implementing other procedures to protect the collections. Intervening treatments are done minimally and only when needed. The current facility has improved the department’s ability to care for the collection by providing state-of-the-art environmental and storage systems and a spacious Conservation Lab.
For more information, email conservation@smm.org.
Meet Our Staff
Rebecca Newberry, Director of Collections Stewardship
Rebecca is a conservator and leads the Collections Stewardship Department. She monitors the Integrated Pest Management program and the museum’s climate. She develops exhibition, storage, and shipping mounts for the diverse collections. Her conservation interests include Integrated Pest Management, preventive conservation techniques, and ethnographic conservation, focusing on culturally appropriate storage and preservation.