Small Collections Grant
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Laying a sound foundation for the preservation and digitization of Istanbul University Faculty of Science Herbarium (ISTF) collections
Turkey
Database, Digitally image, Process backlog
Cost (USD):
2000
ISTF
Istanbul University
Objective:
The ultimate goal is digitization and preservation of the little-known but significant collection of approximately 50,000 specimens, including many featured in Boissier’s Flora Orientalis. Challenges faced include damage sustained during the 3 times the collection has moved in the past 5 years, plus care and processing of unmounted and unnumbered specimens. The herbarium is in need of mounting materials in order to process these specimens for their long-term preservation and digitization.
Timetable:
Our goal is to complete maintenance, mounting and digitization work within 2 years, with a possible 1-year extension for the backlog of specimens not entered into herbarium records.
This goal is dependent on the procurement of mounting materials and a separate device for data entry of herbarium records into the database. We estimate that 20,000 specimens have yet to be mounted, but the backlog of specimens not entered into herbarium records makes estimation difficult.
Work done: ISTF moved to its permanent space in January 2022, after which we began work to process and organize the collection, as well as plan maintenance and digitization efforts after collections were stored in less-than-ideal conditions during the five-year transition period. Specimen cleaning and maintenance work, as well as digitization efforts began in October 2022. As of December 26, 2022, imaging and data entry of approximately 1,900 specimens had been completed and published on the website.
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:
Ongoing work in mounting, maintenance and digitization is being undertaken by researchers and student volunteers at the Botany Department at Istanbul University Faculty of Science.
Specimens that have already been mounted are in need of maintenance due to the wear and tear of being moved and stored in less-than ideal conditions over the past 5 years. These maintenance tasks include replacement of contaminated or damaged mounting sheets, updating of outdated adhesive and mounting methods that ultimately harm collections, and proper storage of detached pieces in herbarium envelopes to prevent loss.
Specimens from the backlog include those that have been given herbarium numbers and recorded, but never properly mounted, and those that have been deposited but not recorded and given a number. Both types of specimens require mounting and entry into the regular collections so they can be accessed by researchers and digitized.
Digitization, including data entry and photographs, is ongoing for specimens that are in good shape. Data entry of records currently found only on herbarium sheets and notebooks must also be undertaken to promote preservation of and access to this invaluable data.
We have an imaging setup and active digital herbarium website (https://istf.istanbul.edu.tr), but are running low on mounting materials and data entry is slowed by lack of a device dedicated to this task. These materials are not provided for by the university.
Institution:
IH Code:
Country:
Target areas:
Applicant First Name/s:
email:
"Other" target:
Osman Erol
Applicant Last Name/s: