Compiled by Olivia Beavers, Assistant Curator of Vertebrate Zoology at World Museum, National Museums Liverpool.
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 keen to hear from you if you have any top tips and recommendations for our next Digest, please drop an email to blog@natsca.org.
Sector News
Call for Papers – GCG special issue of Geological Curator.
This is reminder of the upcoming GCG special issue of Geological Curator. This issue will be published in Spring 2026, titled ‘Moving towards equitable Geoscience Collections’.
The purpose of this issue is to consolidate current research and initiatives that aim to improve the environment, accessibility, and future of geological collections. Broad themes welcomed in this issue include anti-colonial practice, physical accessibility, neuroinclusive practice, and representation of minority groups. Submissions can include topics relating to museums broadly, but submissions with a Geoscience collections focus would be preferred.
Call for submissions will open on 15 September 2025 and close 31 October 2025.
For general enquiries relating to Geological Curator please contact journal@geocurator.org or see our journal webpage at https://www.geocurator.org/journal.
If you have any questions relating to the suitability of your topic or specific questions about this special issue, please contact edi@geocurator.org.
British Ornithologists Union Annual Science Meeting – A Day at the Museum, November 2025
The British Ornithologists Union annual science meeting on 18th November 2025 will take place at the Natural History Museum in London and is entitled: “A day at the museum: collections-based ornithological research in a changing world”. The programme has now been published, and registration is now open, with early-bird rates until 30 September.
There are two half-day visits to the NHM’s bird collections at Tring planned for Wednesday 19 November (the day after the conference in London). Each half-day visit will consist of a guided tour of the various bird collections led by members of NHM’s curatorial team. Delegates will be able to register for either a morning or afternoon visit, at no additional cost. There will be 12 places available on each, and they’ll be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
To view the programme and register for the conference and Tring visits, please follow the link: https://bou.org.uk/event/a-day-at-the-museum-bouasm25/
GCG Winter Seminar in Hastings – CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
Their winter seminar will be held at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery on 10 December with a field trip on 11 December. The theme is Putting Geology Collections to Work. Please send abstracts of <250 words to events@geocurator.org stating oral or poster by 30 September 2025. Presenters will be invited to submit papers to Geological Curator.
To find out more, please visit the GCG website here.
NatSCA Lunchtime Chats
NatSCA lunchtime chats are for members only and run on the last Thursday of every month.
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. 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
Knowsley Hall
Knowsley Hall has organised some history study days including one on The Life and Legacy of the 13th Earl of Derby taking place on October 15th 2025.
Step into the world of Edward, 13th Earl of Derby (1775–1851) — renowned art collector, natural historian, and patron of Edward Lear. This special study day, curated and hosted by The Countess of Derby, will explore his extraordinary legacy as a conservationist, zoologist, and cultural figure, whose influence reached far beyond the walls of Knowsley Hall.
Programme Highlights include talks from
- Dr Alan Crosby – The early life of the 13th Earl: family, interests, and passion for natural history
- Dr Clemency Fisher – “Was this the biggest Zoo on Earth?” and the continuing importance of the 13th Earl’s zoological museum
- Jenny Uglow – The Gleanings of the Menagerie (1846 & 1850) and Edward Lear
With leading historians, writers, and art historians, this day promises fresh insights into one of the most remarkable figures of 19th-century Britain. To book the event please visit the link here: https://knowsleyhall.co.uk/event/history-study-days-october-2/
What to Read
On the NatSCA blog this month we have Crispy, Brown and Far Too Delicate – Are Herbarium Specimens Just Too Difficult to Use? written by Clare Brown, Leeds Museums and Galleries. The blog explores fantastic case studies of how herbarium sheets have been used in public spaces.
Another insightful read this month comes from Aodhán Ó Gogáin, Documentation Officer, National Museum of Ireland, who writes about hazards in the geology collections that can be detrimental to the specimens. Find out more in Solid as a Rock? Hazards to the Geological Collection.
Dr. John James Wilson, Lead Curator of Zoology, National Museums Liverpool has written an article From Dinosaurs to Platypuses: The many faces of duck-bills. The article highlights some of the intriguing duck-billed animals from World Museum’s natural history collections.
Where to Work
London-based fine art conservation & restoration firm Plowden & Smith is seeking experienced freelance Conservators or Curators based in any location who have expertise in natural history collections (biological and/or geological) for a project in the Middle East. The closing date is September 15th 2025 and the contract duration is TBD with negotiable pay. Initially this would involve remote consultancy work, with possible future travel to the Middle East for practical work. To apply, send your CV and day rate to cym.storey@plowden-smith.com.
Oxford University Museum of Natural History are recruiting for a Project Assistant to work on their fluid-preserved natural history collections in preparation for a large offsite move. The role will include working within a small team to prepare fluid specimens ahead of a later move to a new store. The project will involve documentation, collections management, logistics and planning and some conservation work in preparation for a separate move project.
This is a full-time, fixed-term position, working 36.5 hours per week for 12 months, salary: £28,437 – £32,108 per annum. Closing date is midday on 22nd September.
Further details, benefits of working for the University and how to apply here.
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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