Small Collections Grant
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"Digitization of the herbarium specimens housed at the Herbarium ‘GUBH’, with an emphasis on the preservation of the century old collections"
India
Database, Digitally image, Process backlog, Conserve
Cost (USD):
1945
GUBH
Department of Botany, Gauhati University, Assam
Objective:
Digitization of 20,529 herbarium sheets at GUBH (186 families) using a Sony Alpha ILCE 6100L camera, Brontix Thermal Label Printer for labeling, and Retsol LS 450 Laser Barcode Scanner for data entry into Excel.
The digitized data will be uploaded to GBIF for researcher access.
Additionally, 875 backlog specimens will be processed, mounted, and digitized.
Lastly, 753 century-old collection, will be re-curated for proper storage and preservation to prevent further deterioration.
Timetable:
MAY 2025: Procuring of Equipments. Photography, Bar-coding and Data preparation to start.
JUNE 2025 to NOVEMBER 2025: Capturing images of the herbarium specimens and compilation of related information. The process of organizing the photographs and other associated data in a systematic manner will be carried simultaneously. Also to start re-curating the century old herbarium collections.
DECEMBER 2025 to FEBRUARY 2026: Digitization process continues. GBIF organization to be approached. Digital images and associated data to be shared to GBIF platform as per our mutual communication with the organization.
FEBRUARY 2026 to April 2026: Uploading of Image in GBIF data base and the preparation of the report on the outcome of the project and communicate back to IAPT with final notes on the completion.
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
2025
Year of last successful SCG application:
Has applicant applied for SCG before?:
Plan:
The first and foremost work that will be undertaken is procuring the necessary equipments as mentioned in the budget submitted.
To start off the process of capturing digital images of the 20529 specimens housed at GUBH, including the specimens of U.N. Kanjilal (753 nos.). The herbarium sheets shall be barcoded simultaneously and the data for record shall also be made parallelly for each specimen. The herbarium specimens are filed and stacked as per the Bentham & Hooker’s classification and so in the same order we shall proceed with their digitization.
As per the given time table, we shall try to establish a proper communication and a channel with the GBIF organization and try to present our data to GBIF in their acceptable way for purpose of uploading the images of the herbarium specimens prepared in GUBH. In case if we are not able to successfully launch our collections at GBIF, then we also plan on seeking help and guidance from the Botanical Survey of India for purpose of sharing our data through their platform of the Indian Virtual Herbarium. In both these aspects our main motive is to digitally make our herbarium collections available to the world, since GUBH has a diverse collection from many locations across North Eastern part of India.
Institution:
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Country:
Target areas:
Applicant First Name/s:
email:
"Other" target:
Souravjyoti Borah
Applicant Last Name/s: