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 10 April 2014, the NSC Alliance director of public policy Dr. Robert Gropp was a witness on a panel testifying before the House Subcommittee on Interior and Environment Appropriations. He testified in his capacity as Chairman of the USGS Coalition, an alliance of organizations united by a commitment to the continued vitality of the […]
The Natural Science Collections Alliance submitted testimony to Congress in favor of increased funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF). The requested $7.5 billion would restore proposed cuts to research funding and enable continued investments in natural history collections. NSF requested $7.255 billion in fiscal year 2015. At this level, biological research funding would be […]
The Natural Science Collections Alliance and iDigBio will hold an important symposium on the future of collections this May. NSC Alliance members are encouraged to participate in “Collections for the 21st Century” at the University of Florida on May 5-6. The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Advancing Digitization of Biodiversity Collections Program (ADBC) is in its […]
A symposium, ‘Collections for the 21st Century,’ sponsored by iDigBio and the NSC Alliance, will be held on May 5-6, 2014, in Gainesville, Florida. It will emphasize the value of collections data in meeting challenges facing biodiversity and human societies. The symposium will feature a full day of talks on May 5 and a half–day […]
In 2013, the NSC Alliance engaged in a number of notable activities to raise the profile of natural history collections with policymakers, researchers, and the general public. A few highlights are presented below: Sponsored a symposium with iDigBio on digitization and dissemination of natural history data. The event was held at the 2013 Society for […]
The House Science Subcommittee on Research and Technology held a hearing on 14 January 2014 on scientific research at the Smithsonian Institution. The hearing provided the leadership of the Smithsonian an opportunity to showcase its varied scientific research programs. Six Representatives attended the hearing: Chairman Larry Bucshon (R-IN), Ranking Member Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), Thomas Massie […]
Scientists and graduate students who are interested in communicating the importance of federal investments in scientific research and education to lawmakers are invited to participate in the Biological and Ecological Sciences Coalition (BESC) Congressional Visits Day in Washington, DC. This event is an opportunity for scientists to meet with their members of Congress to discuss […]
The Natural Science Collections Alliance has prepared a short report on how fossils are used in scientific research. “Celebrating the Knowledge and the Mystery of Fossils†shows how researchers use fossils to understand evolution of species and reconstruct Earth’s ancient climate. “Fossil collections are extremely important for those of us who study evolutionary biology because […]
Applications are now being accepted for the 2014 AIBS Emerging Public Policy Leadership Award. This award recognizes graduate students in the biological sciences who have demonstrated initiative and leadership in science policy. Recipients receive first-hand experience at the interface of science and public policy. Winners receive: A trip to Washington, DC, to participate in the […]
To Potential Applicants to the NSF Advancing Digitization of Biological Collections Program: The U.S. National Science Foundation has extended the deadline for applications to the Advancing Digitization of Biological Collections program. Please see the note below from Dr. Judy Skog at NSF. Hi, all. As you know, with the government shutdown, the deadline for ADBC […]