A new online group has formed to encourage networking among natural science collections leaders.  This group offers an opportunity for leaders from collections across the nation to identify and discuss common public policy issues, and other common challenges facing natural science collections professionals.

To join this group you must first join LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com).  There is no cost for creating a profile on this site.  Once you have registered, simply search the Groups function for “Natural Science Collections Leadership.”  Membership in this group is limited to natural science collections professionals, but there is no cost to join or participate in this group.

Join the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC) and the Canadian Botanical Association (CBA/ABC) for their joint annual conference to be held May 31 to June 5, 2010 in Ottawa, Canada.

With 2010 declared “The International Year of Biodiversity” by the United Nations, this gathering of natural history collection professionals and botany specialists will offer many exciting opportunities for “cross-fertilization” of ideas and transfer of knowledge between participants.

Fully synchronized programs will allow participants from both organizations to attend any of the concurrent sessions and participate in many joint conference activities.

‘Early-bird’ registration is available through March 31, 2010.  For more information, please visit http://www.spnhc-cba2010.org/home.html.

Abstracts for presentations and posters are also being solicited.  The deadline to apply is March 31, 2010.  Please visit http://www.spnhc-cba2010.org/abstract.html for more information.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2010 Emerging Public Policy Leadership Award (EPPLA).  This award recognizes current graduate students in the biological sciences and/or science education who have demonstrated initiative and leadership in science and science policy.

Award recipients receive first-hand experience at the interface of science and public policy, including an expense-paid trip to Washington, DC to meet with their members of Congress.

Applications are due by 5 pm EST on 5 February 2010.

To learn more about the application process and the Award, please visit http://www.aibs.org/public-policy/resources/EPPLAapplication-2010-announcement.pdf

The Inspector General (IG) for the Department of the Interior (DOI) has “found that DOI is failing to fulfill its stewardship responsibilities over museum collections.”  In a December 2009 report, the IG found that DOI has failed to properly accession, catalogue, or inventory museum collections, leaving artifacts “unavailable for research, education, or display and … subject to theft, deterioration, and damage.”

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