Small Collections Grant
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Advancing Curation, Digitization, and Training at the Sacramento State Herbarium
United States
Database, Curate specimens, Digitally image, Process backlog, Conserve
Cost (USD):
2999
SACT
Sacramento State Universisty
Objective:
This project will strengthen the Sacramento State Herbarium by (1) facilitating access to the Sacramento State Herbarium through continued transcription and georeferencing in the Consortium for California Herbaria database (CCH2), prioritizing pre-1985 Placer County specimens; (2) enhance the physical collection by completing taxonomic organization; (3) curate specimens through nomenclature updates; and (4) increase understanding of Placer County flora by mounting and integrating backlog specimens collected prior to major urban expansion.
Timetable:
In fall 2026 I will hire a part-time undergraduate assistant (10 hours/week for one semester). Early in the semester I will train this individual in specimen handling, CCH2 data standards, georeferencing tools, and taxonomic filing protocols. For the remainder of semester, this individual will work under my supervision with herbarium volunteers to make progress on project objectives.
Scoring Rubric
Reviewer's name:
Collection Improvement (max. 120 points)
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Facilitating access to the physical collections by digitization (e.g., data entry, setting up database structure with an outline of the platform to be used, purchasing equipment, and imaging specimens) – up to 30 points.
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Enhancing physical collections by improving the conservation status of specimens in the herbarium (e.g., better folders, protecting covers, mounting paper, labeling, etc.) – up to 30 points.
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Curating specimens (e.g., updating families, species identification, identifying types) – up to 20 points.
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Increasing our understanding of the flora or funga by making new herbarium specimens available, such as processing of backlog or collecting and mounting of new specimens from understudied sites – up to 20 points.
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Securing collections by distribution of duplicates (or orphan collections) to other regional or international herbaria or shipping endangered collections to another herbarium – up to 20 points.
This proposal scores:
/120
Methods & Funding (max. 40 points)
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Match between the proposed budget and methods for the aims described – up to 10 points.
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Perceived need, the extent to which the project will benefit from IAPT funding: e.g., due to active floristic work or contribution to poorly collected sites, due to threatened conditions of collections, and for the degree of involvement of others (outreach and education). We give more points for herbaria in low- and middle-income countries – up to 20 points.
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Sharing duplicate specimens with other herbaria – up to 10 points.
This proposal scores:
/40
Broader Impacts (max. 40 points)
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Degree of regional importance of the collection or the taxonomic importance of the targeted collection – up to 10 points.
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The project will yield durable benefits (specimens, digitized metadata, databases, websites) – up to 15 points.
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The project involves outreach/mentoring and broad dissemination – up to 15 points.
This proposal scores:
/40
0
Year of last successful SCG application:
Has applicant applied for SCG before?:
No
Plan:
With support from previous small grants, SACT has established imaging infrastructure and active digitization workflows but has no permanent staff or recurring university funding. Progress depends entirely on short-term grant-funded student assistance. My current grant support and student assistant position conclude in summer 2026, creating a staffing gap that would pause digitization and reorganization without bridge funding. This project will support a part-time undergraduate assistant (10 hours per week for three months) to sustain digitization, complete taxonomic organization of the mounted collection, update nomenclature during refiling, and mount and integrate a defined subset of backlog Placer County specimens.
As director and curator, I oversee all collection activities while balancing a full teaching load and directing the campus arboretum. A trained student assistant provides continuity in the herbarium when I am teaching, ensuring workflows remain active. The assistant will also help coordinate additional student volunteers, extending the impact of the position beyond the funded hours. This structure allows measurable progress within the award period while strengthening long-term collection stability of the collection.
Institution:
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Applicant First Name/s:
email:
"Other" target:
Marina
LaForgia
Applicant Last Name/s: