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.
On 7 July 2011, the NSC Alliance wrote to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and state education officials about the recent announcement of staff reductions at the New York State Museum. “The loss of five professional-level Museum Scientist positions, including the State Archaeologist and four Curators (one of which serves as State Paleontologist), will devastate […]
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is developing a strategic plan to guide its work and priorities over the next five years. On July 15, the agency will post highlights of the draft plan for public feedback at http://www.imls.gov. The new plan will help IMLS to rigorously examine all of its grant programs, […]
The United States House of Representatives may soon consider the fiscal year (FY) 2012 appropriations bill that will fund the National Science Foundation. Some in Congress have recently sought to attack programs within NSF, including mocking specific grants based on titles and inadequate information. The National Science Foundation is the only federal agency that invests […]
On 29 June, NSC Alliance provided comments in response to the request for public input on the discretionary review of current Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) regulations. Click here to download the letter.
Biological research takes diverse forms–from field research to computer modeling to lab work. Help the public and policymakers to better understand the breadth of biology by entering the Faces of Biology Photo Contest. The contest is sponsored by the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS). The contest is an opportunity to showcase the varied forms […]
The Department of the Interior is currently leading a discretionary review of the current Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) regulations. The purpose of the review is to address two questions: (1) Based on 15 years of use, do the rules currently codified at 43 C.F.R. Part 10 need any amendments, such as […]
The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Research Board announced on 7 June 2011 that up to $1.5 million in grants will be available to provide funds for the acquisition of samples and critical observations of effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Â The Request for Proposals (RFP-III) will support sampling […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking nominations to serve on the newly reestablished National Genetic Resources Advisory Council. Â The purpose of the Council is to formulate recommendations on actions and policies for the collection, maintenance, and utilization of genetic resources; to make recommendations for coordination of genetic resources plans of domestic and international organizations; […]
Dr. Roger Beachy, the director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), plans to leave his position on 20 May 2011. In his two years as director, Beachy led the reorganization of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service into NIFA. He was also responsible […]
Would you like to help inform the nation’s science policy without trekking to Washington, DC? Do you want to meet with your members of Congress to discuss the importance of federal investments in science? Register now to participate in the 3rd Annual Biological Sciences Congressional District Visits event. This national initiative is an opportunity for […]