The Natural History Museum (NHM) has modified its plans to cut its micropalaeontology research group, following an outcry from the scientific community.
The museum will carry out its proposal to make three of the group’s four posts – two research posts and the senior curator post – redundant, but now plans to introduce two new posts that will focus on specialist training, research, provision of support for visiting researchers, science-driven collections development and commercial consultancy.
A museum spokeswoman said: “We received a large and considered response from the science and business community regarding proposed changes to the micropalaeontology group.
“As a result, the museum has identified an opportunity to refocus the roles and responsibilities within the palaeontology department.”
Museums Journal understands that researchers Jeremy Young and Susanne Feist-Burkhardt were offered the new roles, but turned them down, while senior curator Clive Jones was not given the option to take one of the new posts. The museum declined to comment.
Michal Kucera, president of the Micropalaeontology Society, said: “The museum is eroding its reputation in the wider scientific community by acting this way. The feeling is that the palaeontology department has not acted well or in the interests of the community and other stakeholders.
“We do not regard this as a satisfactory outcome and are deeply concerned at the damage that has been done to micropalaeontology in the Natural History Museum and to the scientists concerned.
“Nonetheless, the society is pleased that the likely final outcome is substantially better than the original proposal.”
