Small Collections Grant
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Digitization and Conservation of the Herbarium Collection at Facultad de Química, UdelaR (Uruguay)
Uruguay
Database, Digitally image, Process backlog
Cost (USD):
2000
MVFQ
Laboratorio de Botánica, Facultad de Química, UDELAR
Objective:
The Faculty of Chemistry, UdelaR, custodian of the MVFQ herbarium, has signed the “INTRA-UNIVERSITY AGREEMENT between the FACULTY OF AGRONOMY, FACULTY OF SCIENCES, AND FACULTY OF CHEMISTRY regarding the unification of botanical collections (HERBARIA),” to unify national botanical collections. This will integrate all herbarium-related data in Uruguay into Flora Uruguaya, an online plataform set to launch in 2025. The aim of this proposal is to improve the conservation of MVFQ samples, as well as to digitize their information to make it available on the Flora Uruguaya platform.
Timetable:
Phase 1: Inventory and Condition Assessment: Finish detailed inventory and identify specimens needing conservation treatments. Month 1
Phase 2: Restoration and Preservation Procedures: Implement conservation treatments for deteriorated samples. Months 2-5
Phase 3:
Scanning and Digital Cataloging: Scan selected specimens, standardize data entry formats, record metadata. Months 2-5
Phase 3: Database and Platform Integration: Collaborate with Flora Uruguaya to integrate data into their platform. Months 4-6
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
Year of last successful SCG application:
Has applicant applied for SCG before?:
Plan:
The Herbarium of the Faculty of Chemistry holds type specimens of many species and collections dating back to the 19th century by renowned botanists. It is unique in Uruguay as a repository of national samples relevant to pharmaceutical chemistry due to their medicinal plant status, reflecting the Faculty’s fieldwork. This herbarium is overseen by the Laboratorio de Botánica. The Laboratorio de Botánica already counts with trained personnel on conservation practices and digitization protocols, and also undergraduate students willing to learn the techniques. However, some of them are honorary. By financing one of them, the time dedicated will increase, allowing for a faster advancement of the work. The personnel hired will work on the following activities:
Phase 1: Inventory and Condition Assessment: Finish an already on-going detailed inventory of all specimens and identify those requiring conservation treatments.
Phase 2: Restoration and Preservation Procedures: Implement conservation treatments for deteriorated samples and improving of mountings and labels.
Phase 3: Digitization and Data Integration
1. Scanning and Digital Cataloging
o Scan selected specimens.
o Standardize data entry formats following Flora Uruguaya’s requirements.
o Record key metadata (species name, collector, date, location, habitat details, medicinal properties).
2. Database and Platform Integration
o Collaborate with Flora Uruguaya to integrate the digitized herbarium data into their platform.
Institution:
IH Code:
Country:
Target areas:
Applicant First Name/s:
email:
"Other" target:
Carmen Rossini
Applicant Last Name/s: