In official comments to the Department of the Interior, the Natural Science Collections Alliance recommended several revisions to the draft rule on paleontological resources preservation. The proposed rule is intended to address the management, collection, and curation of paleontological resources from federal lands using scientific principles and expertise, including collection in accordance with permits; curation […]
2016 Year in Review
In 2016, the NSC Alliance engaged in a number of notable activities to raise the profile of natural history collections with policymakers, researchers, and the general public. A few highlights are presented below: NSC Alliance led the effort to reverse the suspension of the Collections in Support of Biological Research program by the National Science […]
NSC Alliance Supports IMLS Reauthorization Bill
The Natural Science Collections Alliance signed a letter in support of S. 3391, “The Museum and Library Services Act of 2016.” The thank you letter was sent to the bill’s sponsor, Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), and primary cosponsors, Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Thad Cochran (R-MS), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). The legislation would reauthorize funding levels […]
NSC Alliance Members Meet with Federal, State Lawmakers
Science took center stage in recent interactions between researchers and policymakers. Across the nation, dozens of researchers and educators met with their lawmakers as part of the Biological Sciences Congressional District Visits event, an initiative organized by the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) and sponsored by the Natural Science Collections Alliance. This nationwide event […]
New NSC Alliance Member
The Entomological Collections Network is the newest member of NSC Alliance. The group is dedicated to the promotion of entomological science through the preservation, management, use and development of entomological collections and taxonomy.
Over 50 Leading Organizations Call on Presidential Candidates to Address Major Issues in Science, Engineering
A coalition of fifty-six leading U.S. nonpartisan organizations, representing more than 10 million scientists and engineers, are calling on U.S. Presidential candidates to address a set of twenty major issues in science, engineering, health and the environment, and encouraging journalists and voters to press the candidates on them during the 2016 U.S. Presidential election season. […]
Thirty-One Top Scientific Societies Speak with One Voice on Global Climate Change
In a consensus letter to U.S. policymakers, a partnership of 31 leading nonpartisan scientific societies today reaffirmed the reality of human-caused climate change, noting that greenhouse gas emissions “must be substantially reduced” to minimize negative impacts on the global economy, natural resources, and human health. “Observations throughout the world make it clear that climate change […]
NSC Alliance Releases New Resources on Importance of Collections to Climate Research
The Natural Science Collections Alliance has prepared two short reports on how natural history collections contribute to climate change research. “How Thoreau, Walden, and Herbarium Specimens Informed Research” shows how plant collections at the Arnold Arboretum have been used to document changes in the timing of flowering. Since the late 1800’s, plants are blooming eight […]
NSC Alliance Members Invited to Interact With Lawmakers This Summer
The Natural Science Collections Alliance is pleased to announce that it is joining with the American Institute of Biological Sciences to sponsor the 8th Annual Biological Sciences Congressional District Visits event. This national initiative is an opportunity for scientists across the country to meet with their federal or state elected officials to showcase the people, […]
Natural History Museum Professionals, Biodiversity Scientists Identify Needs
Biological diversity makes human life on Earth possible. Unfortunately, we are at a time in Earth’s history when an increasing number of species are at risk of extinction. Despite the significance of this issue, the scientists and institutions at the forefront of efforts to understand biodiversity are ringing alarm bells about inadequate investments in this […]