[NHCOLL-L:751] Re: Still seeking work, but...

[Deborah A Lewis]

Eric and others interested in this "thread",

I have 16+ years of experience as a full-time collection manager/curator of 
Iowa State's Ada Hayden Herbarium. Since this was a newly created position, 
no precedents were set and I've been able to mold the job to my interests 
and talents. Of course, first is still collections care,  making our 
holdings available, and supporting other folks' research. But, since we 
have no "extension botanist", the position has evolved to handle plant 
identifications (those that horticulture and weed science extension can't 
do), be the contact person for the Iowa Native Plant Society, do programs 
and lectures, and other kinds of public outreach. Plus, I try to do a 
little research on the Iowa flora when I can find a little time. (Because 
of some screwy policies here on campus, I am ineligible to apply for 
extramural grant funding... but that's a whole other issue...) And, because 
I believe in "eco-justice" and environmental education, I'm involved with a 
number of organizations and such that promote this, which means even more 
committees, lectures, fieldtrips, etc.

Is my "plate too full"? Of course. But from conversations I've had with 
other curators/collections managers, I think this is typical. We are 
expected to wear many hats...

You are right -- at least here, serving as liaison between the scientific 
community and the general public is very much undervalued. And we're a 
land-grant institution, supposedly with the charge to do exactly that! So, 
we do what we can... Good luck in your job search!

Deb
At 06:13 PM 10/17/2000 -0500, you wrote:
>Dear Friends:
>
>Always grateful for the job postings, but seems I never qualify for
>them.
>
>Wondering if I just don't understand the "system," and politics of the
>collections management profession.  I am told without a PhD (I do not
>even have a Bachellor's, but have experience as a contractor with the
>Smithsonian, etc), I might as well not even apply for curatorial
>positions.  What about curatorial assistants and technicians?  Are these
>always filled by grad students, post-docs, etc?
>
>My "expertise" is in entomology, and mostly in rehabilitating terribly
>neglected, but often important, insect collections.  I also enjoy the
>role of serving as an interface between the scientific community and the
>general public.  I am learning that this role of liason seems to be very
>undervalued, the majority of interpretation falling to volunteers.
>
>Aside from my own personal situation, I would like to see a thread
>started on our responsibilities to the general public, and the future of
>funding for the care of collections at public institutions.  Thank you
>for your thoughtful consideration.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Eric R. Eaton
>bugeric at webtv.net
>
>http://community.webtv.net/bugeric/BugEric

Deborah Q. Lewis, Curator
Ada Hayden Herbarium (ISC)             E-mail: dlewis at iastate.edu
Department of Botany                        Phone: [1] 515-294-9499
Iowa State University                         FAX:  [1] 515-294-1337
Ames, IA  50011-1020