Compiled by Claire Dean, Curatorial Assistant at Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle, and MA Preventive Conservation student at Northumbria University.
Welcome to the September 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. We are really keen to hear more about exhibitions, conferences and anything you’d like to promote. If you have any top tips and recommendations for our next Digest please drop an email to blog@natsca.org.
Sector News
The theme for SPNHC 2023 at The California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, is “Taking the Long View”, encouraging all of us to envision the future for our field, our collections, and ourselves. Proposals for Symposia and Workshops are now being accepted. Please visit the Symposia and Workshops page for more information. The deadline for submissions is September 26, 2022.
Papers are currently being sought for the next issue of The Journal of Natural Science Collections, which is due for January 2023. If you would like to submit an article focusing on natural science collections (for example, decolonising, collections, conservation or education), please do get in touch (editor@natsca.org). More details and past volumes can be seen on our website.
iDigBio is pleased to invite you to this year’s Biodiversity Digitization Conference (BioDigiCon) to be held virtually 27-29 September 2022. Attendance is free, but you need to register for a place online here.
NatSCA Lunchtime Chats
The next lunchtime chat is scheduled for Thursday, September 29, 2022 – 12:30 to 13:30. More info will be available soon.
This series 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.
What to Do
The British Science Festival is taking place in Leicester this year between Tuesday 13 and Saturday 17 September 2022, with events being held on the De Montfort University campus, as well as at venues across the city, and over 100 free activities on offer.
This year’s Doors Open Days in Scotland bring the chance to visit a number of museum stores and scientific institutions, including a rare chance to visit the historic 1930’s natural history library at Perth Museum & Art Gallery and a chance to meet scientists and engineers who work at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh and hear all about their research.
Earth Photo, the international competition and exhibition created by Forestry England and the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers), showcases photographs and videos that document the natural world. Their Dalby Forest exhibition will display 29 of the 55 final shortlisted entries, allowing visitors to view the stunning images in a beautiful forest setting from 12 September 2022 to 1 January 2023.
You can learn all about natural history illustration and develop your skills with Drawing Nature, Science and Culture: Natural History Illustration 101. This popular (and free!) 6-week online course will run again from 28th September. More details available here.
What to Read
Just in time for the start of the new semester, this NatSCA blog post by Patti Wood Finkle, Collections Manager, Pennsylvania State University, focuses on how college and university museum staff can attract students to their museums by employing a variety of programs and collaborations.
This recently published research uses community science observations from around the world to explore the devastating impacts of pandemic waste on wildlife.
A detailed record of ancient British birds has revealed potential rewilding candidates. Find out more about the research in this fascinating NHM article.
Essential new guidance commissioned by Arts Council England, provides a practical framework for museums to consider and manage potential restitution and repatriation cases.
Where to Work
Make sure you keep up-to-date with vacancies between bulletins by checking the NatSCA jobs page: https://www.natsca.org/jobs
The Sedgwick Museum has an opportunity for someone with good rock and mineral identification skills and an interest in working with museum collections to join their friendly team. The Collections Assistant – Mineralogy & Petrology role is for one year initially with possible extension dependent on funding. The deadline is 11th September. More details here: https://www.natsca.org/job/2758
The Natural History Museum has a number of roles available including a vacancy for 3D Designer. The deadline is 12th September: https://careers.nhm.ac.uk/templates/CIPHR/jobdetail_2580.aspx
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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