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.
A new report calls for the creation of a Network Integrated Biocollections Alliance to increase research productivity, solve societal problems, and drive innovation. The report was the outcome of a workshop of experts that was convened last fall to outline the steps needed to build a Network Integrated Biocollections Alliance (NIBA) in the next ten […]
A number of federal departments and independent agencies released revised information on the likely impacts of budget sequestration at the request of Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski. Many agencies face cuts that would be especially damaging for research and development (R&D), as well as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Sequestration would have […]
Nearly one hundred new lawmakers were elected in November. Let them — and their returning colleagues — know the value of federal investments in science. Please take a minute to send a letter to your members of Congress about the importance of biological research and education. Take action at http://capwiz.com/aibs/issues/alert/?alertid=62388191.
iDigBio, the National Science Foundation’s national HUB for Advancing Digitization of Biological Collections (ADBC), is pleased to announce the third in a series of preparation-specific workshops focusing on organizing, launching, maintaining, and/or enhancing a biological collections digitization program.  This new workshop will focus on digitization of dried insect collections (pinned or packaged), to include specimen […]
The Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections have released the preliminary details for their 2013 and 2014 annual meetings. The 28th annual meeting will be held on 17-22 June 2013 in Rapid City South Dakota. The 29th annual meeting will be held on 22-28 June 2014 in Cardiff, Wales. The theme is “historic […]
Scientists and graduate students who are interested in communicating the importance of federal investments in scientific research and education to lawmakers are encouraged to participate in an important upcoming event. Each year, the Biological and Ecological Sciences Coalition (BESC) hosts a Congressional Visits Day in Washington, DC. This event is an opportunity for scientists to […]
In 2012, 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: Conducted a Congressional briefing on digitization of natural science collections. The event was well attended by policymakers from Capitol Hill, federal agencies, […]
Graduate students with an interest in science policy are encouraged to apply for the 2013 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 […]
The December 2012 issue of the journal BioScience includes an article entitled “The Value of Hidden Scientific Resources: Preserved Animal Specimens from Private Collections and Small Museums.â€Â The article highlights the value of small natural history collections in research. The article is available for free at http://www.jstor.org/stable/full/10.1525/bio.2012.62.12.9.
The Natural Science Collections Alliance has prepared a short report on digitization of natural history collections. The document outlines the potential uses of digitized data and its value to researchers, students, decision makers, and the public. Examples are presented of how digitized specimens and their associated data are being put to use. The following is […]