COVID-19 Impacts on Biodiversity Science Collections

COVID-19 Impacts on Biodiversity Science Collections Survey Results Identify Concerns The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS), Biodiversity Collections Network (BCoN), Natural Science Collections Alliance (NSC Alliance), and Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC) surveyed individuals affiliated with US biodiversity science collections to better understand the effects of COVID-19 disruptions and closures on biodiversity research and education collections, and the people who use and care for these scientific resources. The survey was conducted in April 2020. Biodiversity collections hold a tremendous amount of data and support research and education in many scientific fields. They are found in natural history museums, botanical gardens, university-based research centers, field stations, and government agencies. "These scientific facilities are a backbone of our research enterprise. They must have the resources needed to sustain scientific progress during this chaotic period," said Dr. Robert Gropp, Executive Director of the American Institute of Biological Sciences. "Science is an engine we need to reignite the economy and combat future public health and environmental problems." The US bioeconomy was estimated to be about $1 trillion per year prior to COVID-19. In addition to physical specimens, collections include video images, scans, environmental data, records documenting the distribution of species, genetic information, a...
Source: AIBS News - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: news