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.
Scientists have identified a likely source of the deadly amphibian disease Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. A species of frog that was used decades ago in human pregnancy tests is a carrier of the fungus, which now threatens the survival of many species of amphibians. The African clawed frog was used in the 1930’s to 1950’s around the […]
On 9 May 2013, the White House released a policy on public accessibility to government data. The new policy directs federal agencies to change their practices so that new data is digital and therefore more accessible. Agencies are encouraged, but not required, to make existing data “machine-readable.†The policy does not necessarily call for making […]
The Department of the Interior has made changes to the regulations that implement the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The new rule makes revisions “for accuracy and consistency,” according to the notice published in the Federal Register. The new rule takes effect on 10 June 2013. Many of the revisions are minor. […]
INBio, Costa Rica’s National Biodiversity Institute, has surrendered 3.5 million biological specimens to the nation’s government as a result of financial difficulties. According to some news accounts, INBio’s current annual budget is nearly a million dollars short of what is needed to maintain the collections and facilities. INBio gained international prominence in the 1990s as […]
The Encyclopedia of Life is hosting a challenge to describe the world’s diversity of life. Contestants are asked to research and write short descriptions of some of nature’s most fascinating species. Those descriptions will be reviewed by curators for inclusion in the Encyclopedia of Life. The best descriptions will earn their writers a private behind-the-scenes […]
The NSC Alliance has submitted testimony to the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. The testimony supported $2.0 million in new funding for the Department of the Interior’s Cultural and Scientific Collections program. The FY 2014 budget request would implement a multi-year action plan to address recommendations made by the […]
iDigBio is actively compiling a list of DNA banking facilities and genetic resource repositories in the United States that maintain collections of nucleic acid extracts (DNA or RNA) or preserved tissues suitable for genetic and genomic studies of biodiversity. Currently, there are few comprehensive online resources available to aid researchers in: 1) identifying repositories for long-term […]
President Obama released a $3.8 trillion budget plan for fiscal year (FY) 2014 on 10 April 2013. According to the White House, the budget proposal would reduce the federal deficit by increasing revenues and cutting spending.  The proposal would replace sequestration, the $1.2 trillion in automatic spending cuts mandated by the Budget Control Act. Science […]
President Obama’s budget request for fiscal year (FY) 2014 requests $7.6 billion for the National Science Foundation. This is a proposed increase of $592.7 million, or 8.4 percent over the FY 2012 appropriation. Increases are proposed for all mission areas within NSF. The Research and Related Activities account, which includes funding for the various disciplinary […]
The Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections is meeting in Rapid City, South Dakota on 17-22 June 2013. Paper, poster, and Demo Camp submissions are due by 15 May. Early bird registration also closes on 15 May. Learn more at http://cfrspnhc2013.com/index.html.