<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large">[slight sarcasm ON]<br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large">Because Science has repeatedly demonstrated that the physical specimens had more , and very important, information to yield up when newer technologies, or even new eyes, were brought to bear on the questions which gave rise to the collection, preservation and study of those specimens? <br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large">And because even the biological / evolutionary / ecological questions asked of those physical specimens have accumulated over time --new questions for which only the physical specimens can provide data?</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large">"... <span class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large"></span>once it has been digitized (e.g., CT-scanned, photographed, x-rayed, etc.)"</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large">Etc.???? I don't have one of those tools. What does it reveal about my specimens? Can I retain my specimens until I can etcetera them? I have xrayed four hundred of my specimens; as soon as I xray the other 1.56 million specimens, I will ......<br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large">I've read that book. Burn it. If you want to know what it said, read my and my colleagues' book reviews.<br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large">[slight sarcasm OFF]</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large">In other words, I think the answers to your collection visitor questions are easy to answer; questions from institution administrators may be a bit more difficult to respond to --those questions are often not based on the Science of the Thing, and therefore can be rationalized on whatever administrative / bureaucratic / institutional basis / relative criteria that fit their momentary need.<br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large">Peter<br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Sep 26, 2019 at 11:02 AM Sarah K. Huber <<a href="mailto:skhuber@vims.edu">skhuber@vims.edu</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
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<p class="MsoNormal">Recently I’ve been fielding a lot of questions about why our collection should retain a physical specimen <span class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large"></span>once it has been digitized (e.g., CT-scanned, photographed, x-rayed, etc.). I’m curious how often other museum professionals are asked
this question and what your general responses are for justifying the retention of a physical specimen. Why do you tell people it’s important to retain a specimen?<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">If anyone knows of article that have addressed this specific question I would appreciate references so that I can have them on hand for particularly curious visitors.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks,<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sarah<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black;background:white none repeat scroll 0% 0%">Sarah K. Huber, Ph.D.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black;background:white none repeat scroll 0% 0%"><br>
Curatorial Associate, VIMS Nunnally Ichthyology Collection<br>
Office 804.684.7104 | Collection 804.684.7285<br>
<a href="mailto:skhuber@vims.edu" target="_blank">skhuber@vims.edu</a> | <a href="http://www.vims.edu/research/facilities/fishcollection/index.php" target="_blank">http://www.vims.edu/research/facilities/fishcollection/index.php</a></span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black"><br>
<span style="background:white none repeat scroll 0% 0%">PO Box 1346 | 1370 Greate Rd., Gloucester Pt., VA 23062<u></u><u></u></span></span></p>
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