1. Richard Lane, Natural History Museum, London Scientific Collections International (SciColl) An international coordinating mechanism OECD GSF Krakow Oct 2009

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

3. 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) Reference system of existing information Source of new knowledge and ideas Can be arrayed, distributed infrastructure

4. Collections are Part of our Scientific Infrastructure

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

6. SciColl: International Coordinating Mechanism Two main benefits Ensure collections are efficient and integrated infrastructures –Best practice for access, management –Value for money –Connectivity

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

8. 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

9. Background – GSF Scientific Collections initiative Proposal by Dutch delegation, GSF-14 (Feb 2006) Exploratory workshops: Leiden June 2007, Washington, July 2008 Approval GSF Oct 2008 –Planning for 18 months, governance, sustainability –Expand disciplinary and international participation Planning meetings: London, March 2009 (SciColl); Berlin Sept 2009

10. Scientific Collections International SciColl - update Strategic planning and programme of work Governance and management Budget and financing start-up phase Outreach to scientific disciplines and countries

11. 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.

12. Strategic planning and programme of work Workplan: Best practice in management of collections Pilot project on Global Environment Change

13. 10 1 10 2 10 3 10 4 10 5 10 6 10 7 10 8 Years Invasive Organisms & Emerging Diseases Anthropogenic Materials Climate Change Agriculture & Industrialisation Early Agriculture & Climate Change

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

15. Governance and management Governance Secretariat –Build up over two years –Hosting secretariat: expressions of interest

16. Budget and financing start-up phase [Budget table]

17. Budget and financing start-up phase Budget Contributions –Years 1-3 primarily national contributions based on GERD –Years 4 > primarily membership contributions –(governance reflects the contribution profile)

18. Outreach to scientific disciplines and countries Scientific conference: Brussels 8-9 Feb 2010 International coordination of scientific collections: A global research infrastructure to understand changing environments European Science Foundation : Euro 15,000

19. Timeline and Milestones Feb 2010 : research conference: collections and users –Extends scientific scope, widens participation –Partners Apr 2010: final report to GSF Jan 2011: SciColl launch event

20. Questions?

21. Unmet needs: 1. quality of collections Demonstrating value to funders –Scientific quality of collection –Quality of management as an infrastructure –Efficiency measures: Value for money

22. Unmet needs: quality of collections Demonstrating value to funders –Scientific quality of collection –Quality of management as an infrastructure –Efficiency measures: Value for money Credibility with scientific community –Quality of data –Ability to engage with larger questions

23. Unmet needs: 2. sharing best practice and standards Management and care of collections Access Metadata standards & interoperability

24. Unmet needs: 3. enhancing value to science and society Addressing large scale scientific questions

25. biodiversity anthropology/ archaeology earth sciences biomedicine coordinated collections & integrated research programs virtual network of collections with interoperable information resources cross-disciplinary research team Collection

26. 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

27. Unmet needs: 3. enhancing value to science and society Large scale scientific questions Cultural diplomacy –International in origin –Historical resource inequity –Metadata extraction –Need to explore shared ownership, access, etc

28. Un-met needs summary Unmet needs for coordination –Quality of collections –Best practice and standards –Enhancing value to science and society

29. Recommendations of the 2008 Washington workshop An international coordinating mechanism for scientific collections should be created GSF should authorise follow-on activities leading to an implementation plan Specific proposal for planning activities GSF delegations should promote engagement with member countries and research communities and institutions