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.
As reported by The Washington Post, a new species of dolphin was discovered within the Smithsonian’s collections. “It happens more often than you’d think: Research scientists go digging around the dusty collections of your local natural history museum and find species hitherto unknown to science. Whatever sits on display when you visit ancient human art, […]
According to a position statement issued by the Entomological Society of America, entomological collections and the staff that maintain them are an irreplaceable historical reference and are of vital importance to current and future life scientists. The statement, issued in January 2016, calls for the protection of “these irreplaceable resources, upon which the bulk of […]
The Encyclopedia of Life is encouraging professors to include undergraduate and graduate students in creating content for the website. The Encyclopedia of Life is a global collaboration among scientists and the general public to make authoritative information and literature about all 1.9 million named species freely accessible online. Undergraduate and graduate students can contribute to […]
The Smithsonian Institution is among a handful of agencies that could receive a funding increase in fiscal year 2017, which starts on October 1, 2016. The House of Representatives passed legislation to fund the institution’s operations at $696.1 million, an increase of $16.4 million. In the committee report accompanying H.R. 5538, lawmakers called out the […]
Professors who are preparing their course content for the new semester may want to include a day for their students to participate in WeDigBio. The 2016 event will be held on October 20-23. Austin Mast, a professor at Florida State University and an organizer of WeDigBio, offers this suggestion of how to incorporate the worldwide […]
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 […]
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 […]
The National Museum of Natural History is offering a fellowship opportunity for graduate students, post-doctoral and professional researchers. The program offers an opportunity to conduct independent research and to collaborate with Smithsonian scientists. Fellows have access to the world’s largest natural and cultural history collections. The fellowship is open to both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens. […]
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, […]
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Review Committee will hold a public forum in conjunction with their committee meeting. The forum will include panel discussions and an open networking session for NAGPRA practitioners. The forum will be held at the Holiday Inn Missoula Downtown on July 12 from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. […]