Richard Lane, Chair Natural History Museum, London Scientific Collections International (SciColl) An international coordinating mechanism ISBER Rotterdam May 2010

Photo National Ice Core Labratory, USGS Photo J. Hicks, U.S. Geological Survey Millenium seed bank Kew Herbarium, NHM London Marine Zoology, NHM London

Scientific Collections – key points Selected & Structured samples of the world around us Vouchers / samples : repeatable, verifiable can be re-examined with new tools (cf observations) Source of new knowledge and ideas Can be arrayed, distributed infrastructure

Collections are Part of our Scientific Infrastructure

OECD Global Science Forum Scientific Collections initiative Proposal by Dutch delegation, GSF-14 (Feb 2006) Exploratory workshops: Leiden June 2007, Washington, July 2008 (ISBER presented) Approval GSF Oct 2008 for planning Planning meetings: London, March 2009 (SciColl); Berlin Sept 2009 Organisation de Coopération et de Développement Economiques Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Strategic planning and programme of work Mission help scientific collections and their host institutions increase their effectiveness and the return on investment in the long-term management of collections catalyse ground-breaking interdisciplinary research that relies on access to scientific collections and their associated information.

SciColl: International Coordinating Mechanism Two main benefits Ensure collections are efficient and integrated infrastructures

SciColl: International Coordinating Mechanism Two main benefits Ensure collections are efficient and integrated infrastructures Enable more science to be done, especially interdisciplinary research

SciColl: International Coordinating Mechanism Two main benefits Ensure collections are efficient and integrated infrastructures Enable more science to be done, especially interdisciplinary research This will lead to the sustainabilty and development of collections

Strategic planning and programme of work Workplan: Best practice in management of collections Pilot research project –Global Environment Change

Years Invasive Organisms Emerging Diseases

Years Invasive Organisms Emerging Diseases Anthropogenic Materials Agriculture Industrialisation

Years Invasive Organisms Emerging Diseases Anthropogenic Materials Agriculture Industrialisation Early Agriculture

Years Climate Change Palaeoclimates

Years Invasive Organisms Emerging Diseases Anthropogenic Materials Climate Change Agriculture Industrialisation Early Agriculture Climate Change Palaeoclimates

Examples of interdisciplinary research programs using collections impact of global climate change in specific ecosystems (e.g., shallow seas / deserts / mountains) patterns of human migration changes in biodiversity, extinctions historical epidemiology, especially infectious diseases development of forensic tools movement of anthropogenic materials in the environment geological dynamics

Background – GSF Scientific Collections initiative Proposal by Dutch delegation, GSF-14 (Feb 2006) Exploratory workshops: Leiden June 2007, Washington, July 2008 (ISBER presented) Approval GSF Oct 2008 Planning meetings: London, March 2009 (SciColl); Berlin Sept 2009 Scientific Conference Brussels Feb 2010

Workshop: International Coordination of an interdisciplinary global research Infrastructure Feb 2010 at Royal Belgian Institute for the Natural Sciences, Brussels. 85 researchers and institutional reps from 36 countries Funded: European Science Foundation, US National Science Foundation, Belgian Science policy Office Earth sciences, archaeology, biomedical sciences, biodiversity sciences, anthropology

Workshop: International Coordination of an interdisciplinary global research Infrastructure Research using collections: Climate, environment and ecosystem change from palaeo proxy collections Changing human disease patterns Climate and human induced extinctions Use of natural history collections for climate change research

Workshop: International Coordination of an interdisciplinary global research Infrastructure Managing collections: Global Biological Resource Centre network – laboratory-based living organisms Korean National Research Resource centre European network of natural science collections (Synthesys)

Workshop: International Coordination of an interdisciplinary global research Infrastructure Outcomes: Strong support for SciColl concept SciColl aligns with –other infrastructure initiatives (eg. Mapping European Research Infrastructure Landscape) –data coordination (GEO, GBIF)

Workshop: International Coordination of an interdisciplinary global research Infrastructure Outcomes: Strong support for SciColl concept SciColl aligns with other infrastructure initiatives and data coordination Added value of SciColl is connecting different research fields and thereby increasing access –Use ontologies of target topics –“ Yellow pages ” as finding tool

Workshop: International Coordination of an interdisciplinary global research Infrastructure Outcomes: Strong support for SciColl concept SciColl aligns with other infrastructure initiatives and data coordination Added value of SciColl is connecting different research fields and thereby increasing access Two or three pilot topics not just one – eg. environmental change and emerging disease

Revised Workplan Deliverables: 1.A community network of scientific collections 2.Improved quality of collections care Improving collections management Increased digital access to collections 3.Increased access and usability of collections 4.Catalysed new interdisciplinary research Two or three pilot topics

Developing Governance and sustainability Governance

Governance and management Executive Board Scientific Advisory Board Secretariat Work Programme General Assembly Work Programme agrees proposes advises runs directs

Developing Governance and sustainability Governance Financial contributions –governments based on GERD –institutions based on size

Cate gory GERD (latest available figs) Countries (examples)Expected contribution (€ p.a.) 1> $50 billionUSA, Japan, Germany, China 90 k€ 2$18-50 billionCanada, France, Italy, Korea, Russia, UK 40 k€ 3$ billion Australia, Austria, Israel, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland 20 k€ 4< $7.5 billionBelgium, Finland, Singapore, South Africa, Portugal, Norway, Poland 10 k€

CategoryOperational budget, including staff [US$] Staff number on collections [additional indicator] Institutions (examples) Expected Contribution € (p.a.) Large -1>$5 million>150NHM, SI, MNHN, IODP 16k Medium - 2$1 million - $5 million MfN Berlin, Naturalis, NICL 8k Medium- small - 3 $200k - $1 million 10-50INBIO, NMK, University of New Mexico 4k Small - 4<$200k<10Linnean Society London, 2k For consortia, the annual financial contribution will be determined in agreement with the Executive Board

Timeline and Milestones Phase 1 - exploration Feb 2006-Oct 2008 Phase 2 – organisational planning and community consultation Oct 2008 – April 2010 Phase 3 - Membership development April – November 2010 May 2010: invitation to submit letters of intent to join SciColl August/ Sept 2010: when sufficient commitment establish Interim Executive Board August/ Sept 2010: launch of request for proposals to host SciColl Secretariat November 2010: Selection of Secretariat Host [Sept/ Oct steering committee and workshop in Australia] Phase 4 – Organisational launch Nov. 2010: Advertisement for post of SciColl Executive Director Early 2011: official launch of SciColl (establishment of Secretariat)

Questions?