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 Park Service (NPS) has finalized a policy that requires researchers using specimens collected from national parks to enter into a benefits-sharing agreement with NPS if their research produces discoveries or inventions with a commercial application. Under the new rule, researchers with commercially successful discoveries would provide monetary or non-monetary compensation, such as scientific […]
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) requests public comments regarding the agency’s application and reporting requirements for the take of migratory birds. Several permits issued by the FWS that regulate the disturbance and taking of migratory birds are scheduled for government review this year. Of potential interest to scientists are forms 3-200-6 (import/export of […]
NSC Alliance President William Brown recently provided written outside witness testimony to the House and Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations. The testimony requested that Congress provide President Obama’s requested funding for NSF in FY 2011. Moreover, the testimony expressed support for NSF initiatives that support natural science collections, digitization of […]
Several NSC Alliance members have written to House Research and Science Education Subcommittee Chairman Daniel Lipinski (D-IL) asking that his Subcommittee include natural science collections in the reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act. The letters support a request sent by NSC Alliance President William Y. Brown to Rep. Lipinski that the House adapt the language […]
On 15 March 2010, the NSC Alliance sent a letter to House Research and Science Education Subcommittee Chairman Daniel Lipinski (D-IL) asking that his Subcommittee include natural science collections in the reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act. Specifically, the letter asked that the House adapt the language and policy objectives of the NSC Alliance proposed […]
The Department of the Interior has finalized a rule regarding procedures for the disposition of culturally unidentifiable Native American human remains in the possession or control of museums or federal agencies. The rule implements the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. According to the notice published in the Federal Register: “In brief, this rule […]
Congress is now considering appropriations for federal agencies for fiscal year 2011. It is important that members of Congress understand why federal investments in the National Science Foundation (NSF) are important to the nation and their district. NSF provides roughly 68 percent of federal funding for competitive, peer-reviewed grants in fundamental and environmental biological research […]
The intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations recently initiated a mid-term evaluation of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). GEOSS was initiated in 2005 with a vision to realize a future wherein decisions and actions for the benefit of humankind are informed by coordinated, comprehensive and sustained Earth observations and information. GEOSS implementation is […]
A strategic plan is being developed for a 10-year, national effort to digitize and mobilize images and data associated with biological research collections. The plan aims to create a publicly available, comprehensive collections resource that will increase access to biological collections across the country. The plan was drafted by workshop participants at the National Evolutionary […]
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee will be holding three meetings to discuss matters relating to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). Included on the agenda for the May 14, 2010 meeting are presentations to the Review Committee by Indian tribes, museums, and federal agencies on both the positive […]