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.
With support from the U.S. National Science Foundation, in September 2012 the American Institute of Biological Sciences will convene a two-day workshop in Reston, Virginia, to develop an implementation plan for the Strategic Plan for a Network Integrated Biocollections Alliance (NIBA). The outcome of the workshop will be a detailed report that will be published […]
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 […]
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.
Ecosystem and biological research programs at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) could be cut by $28.8 million (-18 percent) if the House of Representative’s Interior and Environment Appropriations bill is enacted in its current form. This is a disproportionate reduction when compared with other USGS programs and with the agency as a whole. The […]
Science education is becoming more interactive through the use of technology and inquiry-based learning. Help the public and policymakers to better understand these new directions in science education by entering the Faces of Biology: Teaching and Learning. The contest is sponsored by the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS). The contest is an opportunity to […]
On 22 June 2012, the NSC Alliance wrote to President Obama’s senior advisers on budget and science regarding the establishment of new federal scientific collections. The letter from NSC Alliance President Dr. Larry Page thanks the Administration for its actions to encourage federal agencies to identify and more adequately budget for federally owned scientific collections. […]
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 […]