Natural Science Collections Alliance
Our members are part of an international community of museums, botanical gardens, herbariums, universities and other institutions that house natural science collections and utilize them in research, exhibitions, academic and informal science education, and outreach activities.
The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois will cut $3 million from its budget for science. An additional $2 million in reductions will be sought from other programs. The spending reductions were prompted by the recession and institution’s debt. Richard Lariviere, the museum’s president, announced the cost cutting plans this week. Staff layoffs […]
Graduate students with an interest in science policy are encouraged to apply for the 2013 AIBS Emerging Public Policy Leadership Award. This award recognizes graduate students in the biological sciences who have demonstrated initiative and leadership in science policy. Recipients receive first-hand experience at the interface of science and public policy. Winners receive a trip […]
Catalog records for thousands of field books from the Smithsonian Institution are now available online. The Field Book Project makes available details about the collection of biological specimens from 542 collections housed at the Smithsonian Institution. More than 6,600 field books are included in the project. In addition to the detailed catalog records, researchers now […]
The December 2012 issue of the journal BioScience includes an article entitled “The Value of Hidden Scientific Resources: Preserved Animal Specimens from Private Collections and Small Museums.â€Â The article highlights the value of small natural history collections in research. The article is available for free at http://www.jstor.org/stable/full/10.1525/bio.2012.62.12.9.
The Natural Science Collections Alliance has prepared a short report on digitization of natural history collections. The document outlines the potential uses of digitized data and its value to researchers, students, decision makers, and the public. Examples are presented of how digitized specimens and their associated data are being put to use. The following is […]
A recent publication by the Texas Tech University Natural Science Research Laboratory presents methods for determining the costs of collecting and preparing mammal voucher specimens. Such information is useful in justifying budget requests from administrators and in formulating policies on specimen usage and replacement, according to the paper’s authors. At Texas Tech University, the average […]
People around the country are taking action today to stand up for science. Join the national day of action to voice your support for federal investments in research and science education. The biological sciences community needs to express its opposition to further cuts to the federal programs that invest in research, support education, and protect […]
House Republicans were busy last week determining who will lead the chamber’s twenty-five committees in the next Congress. Although some chairmen will retain their positions, changes are in store for at least one committee with jurisdiction over science. Notably, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee will have a new leader next year. Representative Lamar […]