Compiled by Olivia Beavers, Assistant Curator of Vertebrate Zoology at World Museum, National Museums Liverpool.
Welcome to the July edition of NatSCA Digital Digest.
A monthly blog series featuring the latest on where to go, what to see and do in the natural history sector including jobs, exhibitions, conferences and training opportunities. If you have any top tips and recommendations for our next Digest please drop an email to blog@natsca.org.
Sector News
SPNHC / BHL / NatSCA Conference 2022
Just over a month ago the SPNHC/ BHL / NatSCA conference was underway. As my first SPNHC and first NatSCA conferences, it was a great introduction into the sector and I enjoyed meeting all of the NatSCA members that were able to attend the event! One of the highlights were the National Museums Scotland store tours! If you missed out, you can get a glimpse of the natural history collections here.
Yorkshire Natural History Museum
The Yorkshire Natural History Museum is a new, small public museum opening in Sheffield – Saturday August 13th 2022! The museum includes geology, palaeontology and botany collections with a significant research collection of fossils from the Yorkshire Lias. Their website is currently under construction but you can check out their twitter account @YorkshireNHM.
Harnessing the Power of Natural Science Collections – Community Event
This event is currently underway, but if you’re quick you might catch the last half! The event is open to all UK natural science collection holders, interested in attending and learning more about the scoping work and the next steps in the plans for a national digitisation programme. Held via Microsoft Teams, July 14th, between 10:00-12:00. Please follow this link to access the meeting.
NatSCA Lunchtime Chats
Sadly, the last lunchtime chat scheduled for June 30th 2022 was cancelled and is in the process of being rescheduled. In the meantime, you can read Jazmine’s recent blog: Freezing Specimens And How To Mitigate Freezer Burn here.
This series of lunchtime chats is supposed to be informal, no fancy equipment is needed, it will be put out over the NatSCA Zoom platform and there is no fixed format. There will be shaky walks through stores by mobile, demos, plain pieces to camera or traditional PowerPoints if that’s the best way to share images and info. For those who want to take part please email training@natsca.org to put forward your idea; if a stable internet connection for what you want to achieve is tricky we can put up a pre-recorded video and then speakers can jump in at the end for the discussion.
Bring your sandwiches and a cuppa and we hope to see you on the day! All members will have received a link to join via Zoom (the same link works for all sessions) – if you haven’t, get in touch with membership@natsca.org.
Where to Visit
T.rex: The Killer Question (NHM’s touring exhibition with animatronic dinosaurs) is on display in Peterborough Cathedral from 18th July to 3rd September 2022. “This world class exhibition has nine roaring and moving animatronic dinosaurs of various sizes, including a three-quarter size T.rex. A 12-metre-long static model of a T. rex and a life-size T. rex skeleton will also be on show, facing each other across the Cathedral transepts”.
Once Upon a Planet is a new exhibition opening at Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery, Carlisle from 25th June – 10th September 2022. “It features new displays of Tullie House’s Designated natural science collections, and was developed in conversation with our Young Advisors, Sustainable Carlisle, Natural England and the Heathlands Trust. The fun and interactive displays showcase the amazing diversity of life in Cumbria, and aim to engage the next generation in nature and inspire a love for the planet… A linked programme of events and workshops will run throughout the summer, with an emphasis on sustainability and arts activism.”.
The Tanyptera Trust has a few upcoming recording days – including Far Greenbank Farm Invertebrate Recording Day (17th July 2022| 10am – 4pm), Peak District Site TBC Invertebrate Recording Day (31st July 2022| 10am – 4pm), Chester Zoo Estate Invertebrate Recording Day (3rd August 2022| 10am – 4pm).
They also have an upcoming Dragonfly ID Weekend – a 2-day workshop (6th August 2022 10:30am – 7th August 4pm) on dragonfly and damselfly identification in the field. Taking place at Rixton Clay Pits Nature Reserve. Tickets are £15 and can be bought here.
The Reverend Edward Budge-Cornish Mineral Collection, a blog written by John Cooke, Mineral Enthusiast and Part-Time Volunteer Curator, talks about an interesting example of investigative co-operation with the Forensic Team at Keele University.
Finally, if you fancy a quick break, you could tune in to the Natural History Museum’s new YouTube series: Hidden Treasures. Click to watch the first episode from last week on the dinosaur collection. The next live stream, which will either be based on fish or flies, will be live on August 5th 2022 15:30pm.
What to Read
There are two great blogs to read this month including a great entry written by Alexandra Slucky (Assistant Heritage Consultant & Environmental Archaeologist, Atkins, York Office) and Fiona Roberts (Collaborative ESRC PhD student, Cardiff University & Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales) titled: The ‘Social History of Natural History: People and Plants’ Workshop One. The corresponding workshop talks can be found here People and Plants – YouTube.
Freezing Specimens And How To Mitigate Freezer Burn is another useful and engaging blog written by Jazmine Miles Long.
Where to Work
National Museums Liverpool is looking for a Curatorial Assistant Botany (Part time, temporary, £20,723 Pro rata). Closing date is Friday 15th July 2022 at 2pm.
Before You Go…
If you have any top tips and recommendations for our next Digest please drop an email to blog@natsca.org. Similarly, if you have something to say about a current topic, or perhaps you want to tell us what you’ve been working on, we welcome new blog articles so please drop Jen an email if you have anything you would like to submit.
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