NSC Alliance has provided comments to the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee, chaired by the National Science Foundation (NSF), on its Draft Arctic Research Plan. The comments highlight the critical role of biorepositories and collections in Arctic research.
“We believe that the role of biorepositories should be emphasized in multiple parts of the plan, but particularly under the section related to Monitoring, Modeling, Observing, and Predicting,” reads the letter. “Biorepositories, including museums, herbaria, and living collections, are specifically designed to conserve voucher specimens and associated data for all the types of research mentioned in the draft plan.”
NSC Alliance urged the incorporation of collections in the plan more explicitly, arguing that “past, present, and future collections of Arctic flora and fauna will be essential for the comprehensive monitoring, modeling, and predicting that is envisioned in the Arctic Research Plan.”