Friday the  University published a photo essay in their on-line journal FYI about the rapid prototyping process we are using to duplicate bones on the Tarkio Valley Sloth Project. The prototypes (a.k.a. “casts”) are accurate within a millimeter and can be safely mailed to scientists who wish to examine the individual elements for their research. They will also serve as substitute bones for traveling trunks to  schools and nature centers that we plan to make available in 2012.  The prototypes may also be the basis of a sloth exhibit in the Greater Shenandoah Historical Museum someday.

 

Many thanks to Tom Jorgensen at FYI for developing the piece, and of course Eric Hoffman and his I-CLIC staff,  Steve Struckman and the College of Engineering, the staff of the Museum of Natural History, and Tony Smith for his artistry. . . what a team!

 

Sloth On,

Holmes