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 National Science Foundation has released the newest solicitation for proposals for the Advancing Digitization of Biological Collections program. The program aims to enhance and expand digital data documenting existing vouchered biological and paleontological collections and to advance scientific knowledge by improving access to digitized information residing in vouchered scientific collections across the United States. […]
The 5th Annual Faces of Biology Photo Contest is now open for submissions. The competition, sponsored by the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS), recognizes scientists who use imagery to communicate aspects of biological research to the public and policymakers. The theme of the contest is “Faces of Biology.†Photographs entered into the competition must […]
Dear NSC Alliance Membership, The NSC Alliance is cosponsoring with the Biodiversity Collections Network (BCoN, http://bcon.aibs.org) a Collections Communications Workshop this September 1-2. The workshop will be held at The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois. The BCoN (recently renamed from NIBA Research Coordination Network) is a five-year Research Coordination Network grant funded […]
Scientists who study biodiversity in Brazil will now have an easier time securing permission to conduct their research. The country adopted a new law that supersedes onerous regulations in place since 2001. Under the new law, Brazilian researchers will have to register their work in a database, but will no longer have to seek permission […]
A bill to reauthorize the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Energy Office of Science, and laboratories at the National Institute of Standards and Technology passed the House of Representatives with only the support of Republican lawmakers. The final vote was 217 to 205. All members of the Democratic Caucus who were present along with […]
On 20 May 2015 the annual meeting of the Society for Preservation of Natural History Collections kicked off in Gainesville, Florida with a Plenary Session planned by the NSC Alliance, iDigBio, and the NIBA Research Coordination Network. The Plenary, “Collections for the 21st Century,†featured: – Larry M. Page, Director, iDigBio, Florida Museum of Natural […]
The Network Integrated Biocollections Alliance Research Coordination Network has changed its name. The initiative, which NSC Alliance is a founding member of, has renamed itself the Biodiversity Collections Network (BCON). The name change came as a result of discussions with the biocollections community during which it became clear that the NIBA RCN name did not […]
The National Park Service is planning for the sixth annual celebration of National Fossil Day, which will take place on 14 October 2015. National Fossil Day is a nationwide celebration that will include paleontology activities planned by more than 300 partner organizations. NSC Alliance has once again partnered with the National Park Service to promote […]
The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services is seeking nominations of young scientists for a new fellowship. The program will offer the opportunity for fellows to gain an understanding of the assessments process on land degradation and restoration. Nominations are due by 31 May. Learn more at http://www.ipbes.net/news/660-nomination-fellows.html.
In testimony submitted to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, NSC Alliance voiced support for funding for scientific collections at the Department of the Interior. Interior proposes to increase funding by $1.0 million for collections management in fiscal year 2016. Additionally, the U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service would maintain […]