Abstract Detail

Systematics Section/ASPT

Thiers, Barbara [1], Monfils, Anna [2].

The Biodiversity Collections Network (BEeCoN): Promoting the Use of Digitized Biocollections Data for Research and Education.

The National Science Foundation has awarded a Research Coordination Network grant to develop a framework for leveraging data digitized from the nation’s biocollections to address grand challenges across a wide range of scientific endeavors. The RCN, entitled BEeCoN (BiodivErsty COllections Network) will engage a diverse group of stakeholders to start building the community and mechanisms needed to fully implement this resource. Over the next five years, BEeCoN will expand on work accomplished by the successful biocollections community organization activities conducted by the Collections Web RCN (2007-2012), AIM-UP RCN-UBE (2010-2015), various TCNs, and iDigBio, the hub for the National Science Foundation’s Advancing Digitization of Biodiversity Collections program. BEeCoN (BiodivErsty COllections Network) has formed a Steering Committee with representatives from the American Institute for Biological Sciences (AIBS), the Natural Sciences Collections Alliance (NSCA), iDigBio, the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC), and collections professionals from a diverse range of collections across the US. The BEeCoN RCN will convene a series of working groups to explore governance of the nation’s collection digitization effort, cyberinfrastructure, training, outreach to the broad community of potential users and other biological databases, and use of collections data in formal and informal education. As first steps, the Steering Committee is implementing a communication strategy aimed at both collection professionals and users of digitized specimen data. This strategy will include, but may not be limited to brochures, videos, publications, social media, and an advocacy toolkit that will help collections staff communicate the value of collections to their administrations and stakeholders. Another area of immediate focus will be to facilitate the proper citation and use of collections data by databases that derive information from collections (e.g., gene sequence, isotope databases) and an exploration of the feasibility of certifying biocollections data for particular uses.

1 - The New York botanical Garden, Herbarium, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY, 10458, USA
2 - Central Michigan University, 180 Brooks Hall, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA, 989-774-2492

Keywords:
Collections
Digitization progress
biodiversity.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 18
Location: Salon 3/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2015
Time: 3:45 PM
Number: 18009
Abstract ID:175
Candidate for Awards:None