424,465 research outputs found

    TOWARDS DEMAND DRIVEN PUBLISHING: APPROCHES TO THE PRIORITISATION OF DIGITISATION OF NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS DATA

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    Natural history collections represent a vast repository of biodiversity data of international significance. There is an imperative to capture the data through digitisation projects in order to expose the data to new and established users of biodiversity data. On the basis of review of current state of digitization of natural history collections, a demand driven approach is advocated through the use of metadata to promote and increase access to natural history collection data

    "He knows me...but not at the museum": women, natural history collecting and museums, 1880-1914

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    This article examines women collectors of natural history during the period 1880-1914, their natural history practices, and their relationships with museums. It suggests that for women natural history collections could be used to create and modify gender identities

    Natural History Collections and Empire

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    Approaches to estimating the universe of natural history collections data

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    This contribution explores the problem of recognizing and measuring the universe of specimen-level data existing in Natural History Collections around the world, in absence of a complete, world-wide census or register. Estimates of size seem necessary to plan for resource allocation for digitization or data capture, and may help represent how many vouchered primary biodiversity data (in terms of collections, specimens or curatorial units) might remain to be mobilized. Three general approaches are proposed for further development, and initial estimates are given. Probabilistic models involve crossing data from a set of biodiversity datasets, finding commonalities and estimating the likelihood of totally obscure data from the fraction of known data missing from specific datasets in the set. Distribution models aim to find the underlying distribution of collections’ compositions, figuring out the occult sector of the distributions. Finally, case studies seek to compare digitized data from collections known to the world to the amount of data known to exist in the collection but not generally available or not digitized. Preliminary estimates range from 1.2 to 2.1 gigaunits, of which a mere 3% at most is currently web-accessible through GBIF’s mobilization efforts. However, further data and analyses, along with other approaches relying more heavily on surveys, might change the picture and possibly help narrow the estimate. In particular, unknown collections not having emerged through literature are the major source of uncertainty

    Sherd Assemblages from Sites in Bowie, Cass, Gregg, Lamar, and Red River Counties in East Texas Held by the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History

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    The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (SNOMNH) has in their collections several assemblages of ancestral Caddo ceramic vessel sherds from sites in East Texas. We recently had an opportunity to examine and document these collections during a trip to the SNOMNH, and in this article, we put those findings on record

    Collections Management Systems at Natural History Museums: A Centralized Approach

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    Natural history museum collections are an invaluable learning tool for audiences of many ages. However, learning experiences can be hampered if collections are poorly managed. Inconsistent object numbering systems, scant information associated with a specimen, and differences in records management styles of individuals in the same organization all stem from the lack of collections management standards set forth by some institutions. Natural history museums historically manage their collections in a decentralized manner, with each collections department responsible for its own objects, managing records as the staff sees fit. This report advocates for the unification of collections in natural history museums in order to centralize accessioning methods and optimize record entry. By means of a literature review, project proposal, and action plan, the report argues that unification of collections in natural history museums will enable them to meet their missions of public education

    Records of \u3ci\u3ePachybrachis\u3c/i\u3e in Illinois (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

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    A list of the 20 species and subspecies of Pachybrachis contained in the collections of the Illinois Natural History Survey and Southern Illinois University, and the author\u27s personal collection, is presented, with recorded ecological data and county distribution records where known

    University museums and collections of natural history

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    Natural history museums and collections at American universities have been in decline for the past 30 years, due in part to increasing constraints on the financial support framework and the perception that natural history museums may be no longer central to the mission of universities. This paper disputes the validity of this assumption and suggests strategies for strengthening the position of natural history museums within the academic structure
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