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Small Collections Grant

This page is used to provide assessment scores for each  grant application assigned to you. Please use the rubric below the grant details to enter your assessment scores and any notes you wish to include.
Please note that all scores entered must be whole numbers (no decimals), or you will be unable to save this form.

Saving an at-risk collection, Step 1. Databasing collections for transfer from MONT to DBG

ccripps@montana.edu

U.S.A.

Database, Ship

Cost (USD): 

2000

MONT

Montana State University

Objective:

The fungal portion of the MONT herbarium is at risk. It is housed in my lab, and will not be supported on my retirement. It is comprised of:
A. 9,000 historical collections of microfungi dating from 1897, most of which will eventually go to the NYBG.
B. 4,000 Montana and Arctic-alpine collections of macrofungi partially generated from NSF grant 9972120, which will eventually go to DBG.
For this proposal, the objective is to: database the 4,000 specimens in a format appropriate for Denver Botanic Garden. If resources allow, we will initiate re-labeling and boxing specimens.

Timetable:

It appears that funding would commence in March. Prior to this time, I would set up the database for specimens destined for DBG. Training for my student Olivia Anderson could also begin prior to this time as I have a small amount of teaching funds available. If funded, the time schedule would be as follows:
1. March to June: Specimen information would be added to database by my student. Financial support is necessary for her labor.
2. July-August: I would provide missing data for specimens, as to GPS, complete locations, etc. No funding required for myself.
3. September-February: My student would continue adding specimen information to database. Funding is necessary to support her. If this task is completed, we will start making new labels and re-boxing specimens.
Report completed to Taxon.

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.

  • 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.

  • Curating specimens (e.g., updating families, species identification, identifying types) – up to 20 points.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • The project will yield durable benefits (specimens, digitized metadata, databases, websites) – up to 15 points.

  • The project involves outreach/mentoring and broad dissemination – up to 15 points.

This proposal scores:

/40

Proposal

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Year of last successful SCG application:

Has applicant applied for SCG before?:

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Plan:

The urgency is that I currently have an advanced undergraduate student in my lab interested in herbarium science. She will have time in the next 2 or 3 semesters, prior to my retirement, to help me to make improvements to the current collection. This first consists of databasing the set of 4,000 western collections. DBG has agreed to house these collections and has provided a database format for us to follow. Currently the collections are not in a database. DBG will eventually digitize these specimens and make them available for use. DBG is part of the Mycoportal project, and all of their other collections are digitized and available online. They are quickly becoming the regional repository for fungi. If databasing is completed in the time period allotted, we will initiate making new labels appropriate for DBG and placing specimens in boxes appropriate for DBG. Specimens are currently in packets.
This is a timely opportunity that may not come my way again, given that students typically are not interested herbarium science.

Institution:

IH Code:

Country:

Target areas:

Applicant First Name/s:

email:

Database specimens in preparation for eventual transfer

"Other" target:

Cathy Cripps, PhD

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Applicant Last Name/s:

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