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.
The Department of the Interior has finalized a rule regarding procedures for the disposition of culturally unidentifiable Native American human remains in the possession or control of museums or federal agencies. The rule implements the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. According to the notice published in the Federal Register: “In brief, this rule […]
Congress is now considering appropriations for federal agencies for fiscal year 2011. It is important that members of Congress understand why federal investments in the National Science Foundation (NSF) are important to the nation and their district. NSF provides roughly 68 percent of federal funding for competitive, peer-reviewed grants in fundamental and environmental biological research […]
The intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations recently initiated a mid-term evaluation of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). GEOSS was initiated in 2005 with a vision to realize a future wherein decisions and actions for the benefit of humankind are informed by coordinated, comprehensive and sustained Earth observations and information. GEOSS implementation is […]
A strategic plan is being developed for a 10-year, national effort to digitize and mobilize images and data associated with biological research collections. The plan aims to create a publicly available, comprehensive collections resource that will increase access to biological collections across the country. The plan was drafted by workshop participants at the National Evolutionary […]
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee will be holding three meetings to discuss matters relating to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). Included on the agenda for the May 14, 2010 meeting are presentations to the Review Committee by Indian tribes, museums, and federal agencies on both the positive […]
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) requests public comments regarding the agency’s application and reporting requirements for the importation and exportation of fish and wildlife products. Two permits issued by the FWS that regulate the international trade of wildlife, FWS Form 3-200-2 and Form 3-200-3, are scheduled for government review this year. Of potential […]
Registration is now open for the inaugural conference on Informatics for Phylogenetics, Evolution, and Biodiversity (iEvoBio). iEvoBio aims to bring together biologists working in evolution, systematics, and biodiversity, with software developers, and mathematicians, both to develop new tools, and to increase awareness of existing technologies (ranging from standards and reusable toolkits to mega-scale data analysis […]
The National Park Service is now accepting applications for the George Melendez Wright Climate Change Fellowship. This student fellowship program aims to support new and innovative research on climate change impacts to protected areas and to increase science-based management of natural resources. Award recipients receive a grant in the range of $5,000 to $20,000 for […]
For fiscal year (FY) 2011, the President has requested a $36 million budget increase for the Smithsonian Institution (SI). If provided by Congress, SI would operate with approximately $797.6 million of federal funds. Within this amount, roughly $661 million (an increase of $27 million) would be allocated to Salaries and Expenses with the balance of […]
A new online group has formed to encourage networking among natural science collections leaders. This group offers an opportunity for leaders from collections across the nation to identify and discuss common public policy issues, and other common challenges facing natural science collections professionals. To join this group you must first join LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com). There is […]