Eastern Kentucky University
The Importance of Natural History Collections and the Need for an In-state Repository and Public Museum
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Sophomore
Major
Biology
Minor
Geology
Institution 23-24
Eastern Kentucky University
KY House District #
81
KY Senate District #
34
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Dr. Sally Chambers, Dr. Stephen Richter
Department
Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract
Natural history collections are museum-quality specimens that preserve animals, fossils, minerals, or plants and serve to document biodiversity patterns across time. Natural history collections are a vital component of the scientific process and key for educating the public about the newest discoveries in the natural sciences. Kentucky contains a diverse range of natural history collections scattered throughout the Commonwealth; however, there is no central database that would facilitate researchers’ access to data at multiple institutions, or where the data may be available in a digitized format. In an effort to remove this hurdle, we set out to create an online platform that will serve as a single location for researchers to learn about cataloged collections and provide them with contact information of their curators. To initiate this, we sent out a Google Form to members of the Kentucky Academy of Science (KAS) and reached out to known collections, asking curators to provide us with the location and general information about their collections. We then created a geographical reference tool using ArGIS StoryMaps and shared publicly with plans for it to be hosted on the KAS website. Additionally, we propose the need for a Kentucky natural history museum that will increase scientific activity in the state and provide an invaluable resource for public science education and for interactions with the amazing natural history of our state.
The Importance of Natural History Collections and the Need for an In-state Repository and Public Museum
Natural history collections are museum-quality specimens that preserve animals, fossils, minerals, or plants and serve to document biodiversity patterns across time. Natural history collections are a vital component of the scientific process and key for educating the public about the newest discoveries in the natural sciences. Kentucky contains a diverse range of natural history collections scattered throughout the Commonwealth; however, there is no central database that would facilitate researchers’ access to data at multiple institutions, or where the data may be available in a digitized format. In an effort to remove this hurdle, we set out to create an online platform that will serve as a single location for researchers to learn about cataloged collections and provide them with contact information of their curators. To initiate this, we sent out a Google Form to members of the Kentucky Academy of Science (KAS) and reached out to known collections, asking curators to provide us with the location and general information about their collections. We then created a geographical reference tool using ArGIS StoryMaps and shared publicly with plans for it to be hosted on the KAS website. Additionally, we propose the need for a Kentucky natural history museum that will increase scientific activity in the state and provide an invaluable resource for public science education and for interactions with the amazing natural history of our state.