Small Collections Grant
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Backlog processing, digitalization, and database improvement of the Herbarium VIC collection (from southeast Brazil)
Brazil
Database, Curate specimens, Digitally image, Process backlog, Ship to another institution, Conserve
Cost (USD):
3000
VIC
Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil
Objective:
The grant will be invested in the following improvements:
1) Increase the collection by mounting the backlog of ca. 7,000 specimens;
2) Digitize the remaining backlog specimens and associate the images with the records available online;
3) Distribute duplicates of the main sub-collections to at least the two major Brazilian herbaria (RB, SP), and key international herbaria, which hold important collections and have specialized researches of these same groups: Poaceae (ISC), Leguminosae and Myrtaceae (K), and Pteridophytes (MO).
Timetable:
To achieve the objectives we will 1) train two undergraduate students to mount ca. 20 specimens per working day, each (4 hours/day – 20 hors/week) for 10 months, resulting in approximately 7,000–8,000 mounted specimens. We expect this to completely eliminate the current backlog at VIC. 2) Digitization and image capture of specimens will be carried out by staff and by a third undergraduate student, who are able to process around 50 specimens per day. 3) The third undergraduate student will also be trained to separate duplicates from the current collection and also capture high-resolution photographs from specimens records that lack digital images; we expect to distribute 1,000 duplicates in the 10-month period. 4) Weekly meetings with taxonomists and students will be held for at least 10-month period to improve the taxonomic identification of the collection and to stimulate interest and enthusiasm for plant taxonomy.
If funded, we will provide financial support to three undergraduate students of USD 100/month (R$ 500/month) each for 10 months. Considering that VIC supports teaching, research, and extension activities across the entire university community.
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:
The Herbarium VIC has a main collection housed in a 200 m² climate-controlled room equipped with modular cabinets (occupying about one third of the functional area) and, conventional metal cabinets. The University provides basic materials for specimen processing and shipping, as well as two technical staff members who are involved in curatorial activities. Processing of material is supported by these two staff members but relies largely on undergraduate students interested in botany and scientific collection management. We are therefore seeking funding to support enthusiastic students working in botany and to enhance the services provided by VIC. We are focusing on two main priorities: A) process the backlog of approximately 7,000 specimens, digitizing and imaging them, and incorporating them into the collection; B) distribute duplicates of the main sub-collections to at least the two major Brazilian herbaria (RB, SP), and key international herbaria, which hold important collections and have specialized researches of these same groups: Poaceae (ISC), Leguminosae and Myrtaceae (K), and Pteridophytes (MO). These objectives are expected to be carried out concurrently.
We currently have two desktop computers dedicated to databasing backlog specimens using BRAHMS, and an imaging station with a Canon EOS Rebel T5 camera to capture high-resolution photographs. The software required for image capture and processing is operational.
Institution:
IH Code:
Country:
Target areas:
Applicant First Name/s:
email:
"Other" target:
Pedro
Schwartsburd
Applicant Last Name/s: