Seminar series to explore basic entomology collections management, curation and conservation techniques.
NHM (Natural History Museum), South Kensington, London 9.30am – 4.30pm Friday 1st November 2013
Cost £34 for members or £49 for non-members (remember that becoming a member is just £15 a year!).
This course will cover all basic aspects of collections management for entomological collections, including storage and handling of specimens, loans and legislation, and specimen preparation.
There will be specialist sessions including Integrated Pest Management, storage facilities, spirit curation, specimen pinning, molecular collections, basic slide preparation, documentation and databasing. Tours of the collection areas will also occur.
The course will be both theory and practical supported by a booklet covering both aspects.
Schedule (TBC):
9:30 -10:00 Introduction and Coffee
10:00 -10:30 Entomological Storage
10:30 -11:00 IPM
11:00 – 11:30 Morning Coffee
11:30 – 12:00 Digitisation
12:00 – 12:30 Data-basing
12:30 – 2:00 Lunch
2:00 – 2:30 Specimen pinning
2:30 – 3:00 Slide preparation
3:00 – 3:30 Afternoon Coffee
3:30 – 4:00 molecular collections
4:00 – 4:30 Spirit collections
Contacts:
For further information: Erica McAlister – e.mcalister@nhm.ac.uk
For booking & payment: Holly Morgenroth – holly.morgenroth@exeter.gov.uk
To become a member: Maggie Reilly – maggie.reilly@glasgow.ac.uk
Natural science collections have a lasting and irreplaceable value and are highly relevant when defining national biodiversity and conservation goals today. By housing type specimens, vouchers and reference material they are a resource that enables recorders to produce more accurate and reliable data. However, funding for museums is at a critical point, with cuts, closures and the loss of curatorial expertise jeopardizing appropriate care for collections and access for researchers. Without overt use there is a very real possibility that collections will be lost, to the detriment of all. This open plenary meeting will draw on the experience of The Tullie House Museum in Carlisle and the Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity at the NHM as well as the NBN and NFBR to debate how museums can more effectively engage with recorders and taxonomists for the benefit of all.
NatSCA 