Small Collections Grant
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Digitization of the historical collections in the Thessaloniki Aristotle University (TAU) Herbarium (Greece)
Greece
Database, Digitally image
Cost (USD):
2000
TAU
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Biology, Lab. of Systematic Botany & Phytogeography
Objective:
Digitization of c. 3,000 specimens dating back from the early 19th century up to the late 1930’s. Among them there are at least 44 types, as well as the Zaganiaris’ collections, survived WWII and kept only in TAU. It is notable that Zaganiaris’ published records are so far treated with reservations by many researchers, as the existence of specimens substantiating them was not known. The main objective is to preserve, conserve and bring into light these collections in order to reveal new information on Greece’s phytodiversity and to enhance their accessibility from the scientific community.
Timetable:
April 2020 (week 1 to 4), May 2020 (week 1): Cataloging and geo-referencing of 3,000 specimens
May 2020 (week 2 to 4): Photographing of the specimens. Uploading of all data to Specify 6. Formatting collection data according to biodiversity informatics standards (Darwin Core).
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:
Since the scientific value of these collections is inestimable, their digitization is of paramount importance. The last two years TAU has launched an effort to enhance the management of the collections by adopting the Specify 6 software. Furthermore, the necessary photographic, hardware, and software equipment has been installed. The main objectives are: (i) the cataloging of all the specimens including their label information, as well as their geo-referencing and photographing (ii) to format all data according to biodiversity informatics standards (Darwin Core), in order to make them publicly accessible and interoperable. The main problem of the TAU Herbarium is the lack of human resources i.e. the lack of trained personnel with full and exclusive employment to accomplish the above objectives. We intend to use the funding requested, to employ one already trained postgraduate collaborator to complete the digitization of the historical collections, as well as to procure a second PC to speed up the specimens cataloging. The employee will be supervised and guided by three professors during the course of this work.
Institution:
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Applicant First Name/s:
email:
"Other" target:
Regina Karousou
Applicant Last Name/s: