[Nhcoll-l] FW: making the case for natural history collections and their wider benefit to society and the environment
Dirk Neumann
dirk.neumann at zsm.mwn.de
Fri Jan 22 10:11:10 EST 2016
Hi David,
didn't want to be all too negative in my post: yes, there are definitely
good examples how (individual) museums do outreach and find good
coverage in the media. A similar example is "Tristan", a near to fully
complete T-rex skeleton that went just recently on display at the Berlin
Nat. His. Museum. This was echoed in the media in France and even in New
Zeeland.
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.sciencesetavenir.fr_decouvrir_expositions_20151217.OBS1543_en-2Dimages-2Dun-2Dsplendide-2Dt-2Drex-2Ddebarque-2Da-2Dberlin.html&d=AwID-g&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=MZkpTdhRPe8hnLjdRAAAh4zkkWfHKCLi_1UT_-6tIvo&s=_ud5cLXV3NYM0rH3g4wnvWYHff6gFPm6G2RcgZrxHh0&e=
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.stuff.co.nz_science_75232564_europes-2Dfirstever-2Dcomplete-2Dtrex-2Dskeleton-2Dput-2Don-2Ddisplay-2Din-2Dberlin&d=AwID-g&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=MZkpTdhRPe8hnLjdRAAAh4zkkWfHKCLi_1UT_-6tIvo&s=-YfTwZSEUd3TmpPGKUUga6vSFXa18iIhPVvp7O7qcSA&e=
The most important point is in your first bullet: collections are
underutilized and their potential is not recognized. Parallel, they are
part of our cultural heritage (without attracting the same attention
among politicians, which do have a strong preference for "real" culture,
e.g. fine arts). This is a general concern.
The importance of "collections" is often mentioned indirectly, e.g. in
the Global Biodiversity Outlook 4 of the SCBD; that the barcodes have to
rely on reference libraries which house and maintain respective
specimens is mentioned nowhere.
It might be worth to strengthen our visibility on a more global level,
but even the Global Taxonomy Initiative hardly finds recognition on the
political level. Even though we have been digitising millions of nice,
fancy & colourful specimens for years now, we are hardly seen ....
All the best
Dirk
Am 22.01.2016 um 15:47 schrieb Schindel, David:
>
> Greetings, Dirk,
>
> There's no doubt that pulling the curtain back on the
> 'behind-the-scenes' collections space and activities can make really
> interesting news for non-professionals. I'm incredibly impressed with
> the American Museum's online video series "Shelf Life
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.amnh.org_shelf-2Dlife&d=AwID-g&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=MZkpTdhRPe8hnLjdRAAAh4zkkWfHKCLi_1UT_-6tIvo&s=yLIbTjyn7e2IV5tGKgvNi7YDSyQa_M1mDE5hkDk25jE&e= >". In my view it's the absolute best
> effort so far to explain the collections mission in an accessible,
> appealing way. You may not hear this often from someone at the
> Smithsonian but I say to our colleagues at AMNH 'Bravo, well done,
> thanks!" If each of our outreach efforts did no more than point to
> Shelf Life and say "We do stuff like that!" or "We wouldn't know a lot
> of the things in these exhibits without the research done with the
> collections you haven't seen." I think these approaches would be more
> effective than saying "Collections are the core business of museums,
> so if you like museums you need to support collections. Anyone using
> this latter approach could get stuck explaining why cost-effective,
> larger consolidated collections are a mistake.
>
> Some of you are aware thatScientific Collections International
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.scicoll.org_&d=AwID-g&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=MZkpTdhRPe8hnLjdRAAAh4zkkWfHKCLi_1UT_-6tIvo&s=yHb3qyN-6zJLAqrzLjNRn9Z0rTsJBNQAuw1Dt-CNOss&e= > (SciColl) is taking a different approach.
> TheUS Interagency Working Group for Scientific Collections
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__usfsc.nal.usda.gov_&d=AwID-g&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=MZkpTdhRPe8hnLjdRAAAh4zkkWfHKCLi_1UT_-6tIvo&s=JNHImaz0Hmr7XZkmg8xjIHpjPW_Bfyd5x_yeMc6rRpU&e= > took a similar approach in its2009 Green
> Report
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__usfsc.nal.usda.gov_sites_usfsc.nal.usda.gov_files_IWGSC-5FGreenReport-5FFINAL-5F2009.pdf&d=AwID-g&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=MZkpTdhRPe8hnLjdRAAAh4zkkWfHKCLi_1UT_-6tIvo&s=i3DzPFxodpuIwCSAd_iUY5woQmShQbQuMX5L-Y89wkA&e= >.
> For example, we're arguing that collections:
>
> ·Have been _underutilized_ for some of our most pressing
> interdisciplinary research challenges (e.g., emerging infectious
> diseases, food security, global environmental change);
>
> ·Are essentially the evidence locker that allows us to go back and
> validate earlier research findings through re-inspection, re-analysis,
> and applying new analytical technologies;
>
> ·Could produce priceless, unique, irreplaceable information when new
> analytical techniques appear (e.g., SEM, isotope analysis, DNA
> sequencing); and
>
> ·Provide us with a time machine to analyze conditions going back in
> time. Astronomers and particle physicists try do the same thing with
> bigger and bigger telescopes and accelerators.
>
> David
>
> *From:*nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu
> [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] *On Behalf Of *Dirk Neumann
> *Sent:* Friday, January 22, 2016 8:42 AM
> *To:* nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> *Subject:* Re: [Nhcoll-l] FW: making the case for natural history
> collections and their wider benefit to society and the environment
>
> Hi David,
> hi Andy,
>
> this is not only a problem for smaller collections / museums, we see
> that budgets lines also for major collections are eroding and that
> there are calls to set "priorities". This is suited to start a
> negative cascade which leaves collections behind (with either
> "citizens science", "public exhibition / museum" or "research"
> fighting to raise the necessary attention to avoid cuts in their sector).
>
> Instead of corporate approaches which integrate all parts of Natural
> History Research Museums, the different sectors start to cannibalise
> themselves in their struggle to survive. Vice versa, in some countries
> collections are "integrated" and fused to form larger units, which
> does not result in duplication of staff, of course.
>
> The key question is to sell interesting pictures and news to media and
> local politicians so that we with our core business (=collections)
> remain present (and attractive) to a broad audience.
>
> All the best
> Dirk
>
>
> Am 22.01.2016 um 13:51 schrieb Schindel, David:
>
> Hi, Andy,
>
> In reading this very attractive document, I was struck by the
> ABSENCE of an argument for collections. Rather, the document
> advocates for museums and their role in raising public awareness.
> No question that they are important for public awareness of
> Nature, extinction, environmental change, but I found no
> connection to collections. In fact, other than mentioning the
> total number of specimens in the region’s museums and two page
> that describe what the collections contain and what goes on
> ‘behind the exhibits’ there’s no focus on the use of collections
> or their relevance to the public education mission.
>
> This is not to say that we shouldn’t be advocating for museums as
> centers of education, advocacy and infotainment. That being said,
> based on the text alone (setting aside what we all know and
> believe), a general reader might ask why good museum space is
> being used for collections rather than public exhibits, since the
> collections don’t seem important for exhibits and education. I
> can imagine that this is a question that many smaller regional and
> local museums must answer. It would be very interesting to hear
> ideas from people in smaller museums on how they make this
> connection to the collections for the public and funders.
>
> David
>
> *From:*nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu
> <mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu>
> [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] *On Behalf Of *Bentley,
> Andrew Charles
> *Sent:* Thursday, January 21, 2016 4:32 PM
> *To:* nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu <mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
> *Subject:* [Nhcoll-l] FW: making the case for natural history
> collections and their wider benefit to society and the environment
>
> This may be interesting to those folks looking at advocating for
> collections in various scenarios…
>
> Andy
>
> A : A : A :
>
> }<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<)))_°>
>
> V V V
>
> Andy Bentley
>
> Ichthyology Collection Manager
>
> University of Kansas
>
> Biodiversity Institute
>
> Dyche Hall
>
> 1345 Jayhawk Boulevard
>
> Lawrence, KS, 66045-7561
>
> USA
>
> Tel: (785) 864-3863
>
> Fax: (785) 864-5335
>
> Email: abentley at ku.edu <mailto:abentley at ku.edu>
>
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu&d=AwID-g&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=MZkpTdhRPe8hnLjdRAAAh4zkkWfHKCLi_1UT_-6tIvo&s=dCazFTUkiM_AndkZYRwRRvTA3XZwao7adGUo8tmL6v4&e=
>
> SPNHC President
>
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.spnhc.org&d=AwID-g&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=MZkpTdhRPe8hnLjdRAAAh4zkkWfHKCLi_1UT_-6tIvo&s=yGd-Smnqb4qjK3jaHsoKva6DQ19Ga9O9-Keh3yosZSI&e=
>
> : :
>
> A : A : A :
>
> }<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<)))_°>
>
> V V V
>
> *From: *The Natural Science Collections Association discussion
> list <NATSCA at JISCMAIL.AC.UK <mailto:NATSCA at JISCMAIL.AC.UK>> on
> behalf of Henry Mcghie <henry.mcghie at MANCHESTER.AC.UK
> <mailto:henry.mcghie at MANCHESTER.AC.UK>>
> *Reply-To: *The Natural Science Collections Association discussion
> list <NATSCA at JISCMAIL.AC.UK <mailto:NATSCA at JISCMAIL.AC.UK>>
> *Date: *Thursday, January 21, 2016 at 9:34 AM
> *To: *"NATSCA at JISCMAIL.AC.UK <mailto:NATSCA at JISCMAIL.AC.UK>"
> <NATSCA at JISCMAIL.AC.UK <mailto:NATSCA at JISCMAIL.AC.UK>>
> *Subject: *making the case for natural history collections and
> their wider benefit to society and the environment
>
> Hello- one of the things we have worked on in the North West is
> making a credible case for the value of natural history
> collections, in terms of the benefits they bring to people,
> society and the wider environment. This work was developed into an
> advocacy document which we have had it developed into a PDF,
> reformatted for printing/viewing on screen.
>
> The arguments are tailored towards those working with policy and
> strategy (NGOs, societies, schools, PHE, HE and FE etc etc) rather
> than primarily for public consumption, hence the emphasis on
> ‘need’ messages rather than ‘love’/’feel’ messages. Although some
> of the content is specific to the North West, much of it is not;
> the PDF includes additional statistics not included in the hard copy.
>
> You’re welcome to make use of this and to distribute it further,
> and please do send it round your networks. The work was developed
> with funding from Museum Development North West as part of a
> package of activities to support NW museums, collections and
> museum staff.
>
> If you want to discuss this further, or if this sparks off ideas
> for possible collaboration, then feel free to get in touch. Any
> feedback is welcome.
>
> Yours,
>
> Henry
>
> *Henry McGhie BSc MA AMA*| Head of Collections and Curator of
> Zoology (Honorary Scientific Associate, Faculty of Life Sciences)
> | Manchester Museum | The University of Manchester | Oxford Road |
> Manchester | M13 9PL | 0161 275 2482 | www.manchester.ac.uk/museum
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.manchester.ac.uk_museum&d=AwMGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=FjUZzZhOK8juKxXcQiXooH1gxTmII4hT1okAizDZLwA&s=vaQAarolUSJfD8Mql8YVBLDFTAi4bxMeeNP9IOE6MfQ&e=>
> | www.facebook.com/ManchesterMuseum
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.facebook.com_ManchesterMuseum&d=AwMGaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=CLFZJ3fvGSmDp7xK1dNZfh6uGV_h-8NVlo3fXNoRNzI&m=FjUZzZhOK8juKxXcQiXooH1gxTmII4hT1okAizDZLwA&s=7G_-TxOU08D3ZvpzfprtfPz_bMTqfq8ZtB9GGbsbgRI&e=>
> | Follow us on Twitter @McrMuseum
>
> This year I am promoting biodiversity for the good of the
> environment and for people's well-being
>
> *Exhibitions:*The Study, Opens 11 Sept / The Phantoms of Congo
> River, 11 Sept-10 Apr / Gifts for the Gods: Animal Mummies
> Revealed,8 Oct-17 Apr
>
> *Awards: *Lever Prize 2015 for Real Life Science programme***
> Designated as an Outstanding Collection*
>
> cid:image001.jpg at 01D0C944.25320AA0
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> --
> Dirk Neumann
> Tel: 089 / 8107-111
> Fax: 089 / 8107-300
> email: Dirk.Neumann(a)zsm.mwn.de
> Postanschrift:
> Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns
> Zoologische Staatssammlung München
> Dirk Neumann, Sektion Ichthyologie / DNA-Labor
> Münchhausenstr. 21
> 81247 München
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> ---------
> Dirk Neumann
> Tel: +49-89-8107-111
> Fax: +49-89-8107-300
> email: Dirk.Neumann(a)zsm.mwn.de
> postal address:
> Bavarian Natural History Collections
> The Bavarian State Collection of Zoology
> Dirk Neumann, Section Ichthyology / DNA-Lab
> Muenchhausenstr. 21
> 81247 Munich (Germany)
> Visit our section at:
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--
Dirk Neumann
Tel: 089 / 8107-111
Fax: 089 / 8107-300
email: Dirk.Neumann(a)zsm.mwn.de
Postanschrift:
Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns
Zoologische Staatssammlung München
Dirk Neumann, Sektion Ichthyologie / DNA-Labor
Münchhausenstr. 21
81247 München
Besuchen Sie unsere Sammlung:
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---------
Dirk Neumann
Tel: +49-89-8107-111
Fax: +49-89-8107-300
email: Dirk.Neumann(a)zsm.mwn.de
postal address:
Bavarian Natural History Collections
The Bavarian State Collection of Zoology
Dirk Neumann, Section Ichthyology / DNA-Lab
Muenchhausenstr. 21
81247 Munich (Germany)
Visit our section at:
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