NatSCA Digital Digest – September 2026

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

Spare a thought for colleagues at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia

On September 1st the Academy announced that their museum will be closing at the end of September, shocking visitors around the world and staff across the museum. The main reasons cited for its closure seem to be financial stress and federal funding cuts. Although the museum building is closing on September 30th, it seems that plans are being put in place to protect the 19 million specimens in the collections. Whilst we wait to learn more, you can read the latest statement here.

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NatSCA Digital Digest – August 2026

Compiled by Ellie Clark, Curator of Fossil Cnidaria at the Natural History Museum.

Welcome to the August edition of NatSCA Digital Digest.

Digital Digest is 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

Entomological Skills Workshop at National Museums Northern Ireland

Join Buglife Northern Ireland Conservation Officer, Hannah, and National Museums Northern Ireland Curators for a workshop on collecting, preparing, and identifying insect specimens for conservation research.

The workshop is free and taking place on Saturday the 19th of September.

Book via their webpage. Age group 18 and above.

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NatSCA Digital Digest – July 2026

Compiled by Milo Phillips, Digitisation Co-ordinator at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

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. 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 Abstracts – GCG Winter Seminar – Unnatural Disaster: fighting back against the steady erosion of geological collections

Despite their clear public popularity, the future of geological collections, as well as that of the people and institutions who care for them, feels constantly under threat. The 2026 GCG Winter Seminar will serve as a ‘call to arms’ for those in our community to present on and discuss the public and scientific benefits of our collections.

The Winter Seminar and AGM will take place on the 18th November 2026 at Manchester Museum. A fieldtrip to the Peak District (max. capacity 20) and tours of the Manchester Museum collections (max. capacity 10) will take place on19th November.

The deadline for abstracts is the 31st of July 2026. Find more information here.

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NatSCA Digital Digest – June 2026

Compiled by Olivia Beavers, Assistant Curator of Vertebrate Zoology at World Museum, National Museums Liverpool.

Welcome to the June 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

Journal of Natural Science Collections – Call for Papers

The deadline for submissions to the 15th Volume of the Journal of Natural Science Collections is 30th June. If you have projects and practices to share that will benefit the museum community, please send your manuscript to editor@natsca.org

The Journal represents all areas of work with natural science collections, and includes articles on best practice and latest research across disciplines, including conservation, curation, learning, and exhibitions. Articles should be relevant and accessible to our diverse membership.

If you would like to contribute to the Journal, please contact the editor (editor@natsca.org) and see our guidelines for authors.

All submissions are peer reviewed, resulting in high quality articles. If you are interested in contributing to the Journal by acting as a reviewer, please contact editor@natsca.org, along with the areas of specialism you would be confident reviewing (e.g. bird curation, mineralogy, conservation techniques, etc). You can read our information for reviewers here.

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NatSCA Digital Digest – May 2026

Compiled by Ellie Clark, Curator of Fossil Cnidaria at the Natural History Museum.

Welcome to the May edition of NatSCA Digital Digest.

Digital Digest is 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

Registration Open for SHNH Summer Meeting 2026

After months in the planning, registration is now open for ‘The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) at 200: Science, Society and the Natural World’, the SHNH International Summer Meeting in partnership with The Zoological Society of London (ZSL).

This three-day conference, held in SHNH’s 90th year, will mark the bicentenary of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and delve into its history and impact on our knowledge of the natural world. Founded in the age of empire and Enlightenment science, ZSL has shaped – and been shaped by – transformations in zoological knowledge, conservation practice, and human-animal relations. The bicentenary offers a timely opportunity to explore ZSL’s history and to reflect on its legacy in Britain and beyond.

Location: Hybrid – Huxley Lecture Theatre, Zoological Society of London, and Online

Dates: 1-3 July 2026

Programme: https://shnh.org.uk/the-zoological-society-of-london-zsl…/

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/zsl-at-200-shnh-summer…

Registration will close at 6pm (BST) on 12th June 2026.

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