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Natural History Collections Working Group Triennial Programme 2023-2026

Natural History Collections Working Group Triennial Programme 2023-2026

Themes for investigation:

      • Encouraging Diversity: Foster discussions among members to promote the inclusion of a broader array of specimens inclusive of natural history collections and science collections, enhancing their diversity.
      • Change of name of the Natural History Collections to a more inclusive one that encompasses science collections.
      • Conservation Efforts: Prioritise safeguarding the integrity of natural history and science collections through proactive conservation measures.
      • Contamination Management: Investigate the presence of toxic pesticides in natural history collections and develop strategies to detect and mitigate contamination issues.
      • Climate Change Impacts: Delve into the potential effects of climate change on the conservation of natural history and science collections, identifying risks and implementing adaptive strategies.
      • International Collaborations: Explore opportunities for collaboration with global partners to strengthen the preservation and management of natural history collections and science collections on a worldwide scale.

Projects

  • Enhancing Inclusivity: Expand the scope of the working group by incorporating science and scientific collections, and rebrand it as the Natural History and Scientific Collections Working Group.
  • Contamination Management: Develop protocols to address the dangers posed by contamination in natural history collections, including toxic pesticides, radioactive materials, and other hazardous substances, while establishing robust decontamination and safety procedures for handling and displaying affected collections.
  • Climate Change Adaptation: Investigate the impact of climate change on museum environmental standards and devise strategies to adapt conservation practices for natural history and science collections accordingly.
  • Collaborative Initiatives: Forge partnerships with other ICOM-CC Working Groups, ICOM Committees, and international organizations such as SPNHC (USA) and NATSCA (UK) to foster collaboration and share expertise in the preservation of natural history collections.
  • Conference Contribution: Review and curate submissions for papers and posters to be presented at the ICOM-CC Triennial Conference, ensuring the dissemination of cutting-edge research and advancements in the field of natural history and science collection conservation.

Proposed Activities

  • Online lectures
  • Online workshops
  • Mentoring sessions for students working on the conservation of natural history collections
Natural History Collections