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.
Under current law, federal programs face devastating across-the-board budget cuts this January. Unless Congress and the President act now, non-defense discretionary programs, such as the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Department of the Interior, and face mandatory 7.8 percent budget cuts in January 2013. Defense and security programs would be cut by 10 […]
A series of special reports by NSC Alliance takes an in depth look at scientists and institutions who are using scientific collections. The newest addition to the series, “Little Frog Faces Big Challenges: Herpetology Collection is Repository for Data on Rare Frog,†considers the fate of the Illinois chorus frog. The species’ decline has been […]
The Natural Science Collections Alliance (NSC Alliance) is pleased to announce the start of the 4th Annual Biological Sciences Congressional District Visits event. This nationwide initiative helps individual biologists and research centers meet with lawmakers while they are in their district for the August congressional recess. Scientists participating in the event are able to discuss […]
Dr. Kirk Johnson has been selected to lead the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. He is currently chief curator and vice president of research and collections at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Dr. Johnson will start his new position on 29 October 2012. “Kirk brings an established national and international reputation as […]
A new online presentation sponsored by the NSC Alliance aims to inform biologists about proposed federal funding for science and how individual scientists can help secure increased funding for competitive, peer-reviewed grant programs. Â The webinar, presented as part of the 4th Annual Biological Sciences Congressional District Visits event, features information regarding federal appropriations for biological […]
The American Institute for Conservation has created a survey to help identify the opportunities and challenges facing collections care professionals today. Collections professionals are encouraged to take the short survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/collectionscaresurvey. The survey closes on 30 August 2012.
Stay informed about the Integrated Digitized Biocollections (iDigBio) project by starting a free subscription to its monthly eNewsletter. Subscribers receive information about upcoming workshops on collection digitization, information about digitization protocols, and more. iDigBio is funded by the National Science Foundation and is focused on three key objectives: Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of biodiversity […]
Curators are growing suspicious of specimen requests from a museum in India. According to an article published in Science Insider, natural history repositories all over the world have been plagued by e-mail requests from the Life Science Museum in Jhansi, India, which claim that the director needs assistance replacing specimens lost to unexpected disaster. Andrew […]
This August, the NSC Alliance is sponsoring the 4th Annual Biological Sciences Congressional District Visits event.  This national initiative encourages members of the science community to meet with their elected officials.  Unlike other efforts to educate members of Congress about the importance of scientific research and education programs, this event occurs across the country – […]
A team of scientists is trying to capture 3D images of every species of ant in the world. They are using a new technique that allows the tiny anatomy of ants to be photographed. The images will be posted online for use by other researchers, students, and the public. So far, about more than 8,300 […]