Periodically, Natural Science Collections Alliance (NSC Alliance) member institutions request information about what the NSC Alliance has recently accomplished. The following provides a summary of some of the key activities and accomplishments of the NSC Alliance for the period of January 2011 to April 2012.
- Worked with other scientific organizations to demonstrate grassroots support for increased funding for the National Science Foundation. This effort resulted in increased fiscal year 2012 funding for the National Science Foundation.
- Coordinated a joint society letter to the National Science Foundation to express concerns with a proposal to alter the Collections in Support of Biological Research program.
- Provided testimony to House and Senate Appropriations Committees in support for increased funding for the National Science Foundation and the Department of the Interior.
- Sponsored the 2011 Biological Sciences Congressional District Visits event.
- Nominated, successfully, an individual for service on the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Advisory Committee.
- Participated in the USGS Coalition, an alliance of more than 70 organizations dedicated to the continued vitality of the USGS and its programs.
- Provided regular policy and news updates to NSC Alliance members via the NSC Alliance Washington Report.
- Developed a series of issue briefs that help to articulate the importance of scientific collections.
Additionally, the organization is currently planning a science briefing for members of Congress. The briefing on digitization of biological collections will take place in the Rayburn House Office building in Washington, DC, on June 5, 2012. NSC Alliance members are encouraged to attend this briefing (see https://nscalliance.org/?p=462).
For more information about these accomplishments or to become more involved with the NSC Alliance, please contact Dr. Robert Gropp.