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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.
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UPGRADING AND DIGITIZATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA HERBARIUM (UNN)

felix.nwafor@unn.edu.ng

NIGERIA

Database, Digitally image, Process backlog, Ship, Conserve, Other

Cost (USD): 

2000

UNN

UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA

Objective:

1. To upgrade the botanical collections of the University of Nigeria Herbarium (UNN) from the current capacity of ca. 5,000 to ca. 10,000 samples by replacing damaged samples and making new additions.
2. To prepare the herbarium sheets of the new collections and barcode all collections
3. To digitize the entire prepared samples and all accompanying data.
4. To create a virtual herbarium (the first in the country) for the samples and provide materials and space for subsequent addition to the database.
5. To deposit copies of prepared Type samples in other herbaria for reference and conservation

Timetable:

January – February, 2022 -Collection/Preparation of new herbarium samples;
Development of web database – the back end and web versions
March – May, 2022 -Collection/Preparation of new herbarium samples;
Imaging of existing and newly prepared herbarium samples
June – August, 2022 -Collection/Preparation of new herbarium samples continues;
Data cleaning, processing and Digitization of herbarium information;
Preparation of project report/manuscript
September, 2022 -End of new collections;
Data cleaning, processing and digitization continue;
Preparation of project report/manuscript continues
November, 2022 -Uploading of digital data to the web;
Beta testing and corrections; final draft of manuscript
December, 2022 -Lunching of the web database of the University of Nigeria Herbarium; submission of project report to IAPT and manuscript for publication in 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:

1. Upgrading: New additions will be made to the herbarium through extensive field collection across Nigeria. The grant would help sponsor the logistics involved for the most of the trips to reserved areas, institutional botanic gardens and varying vegetations of Nigeria. Collection is also being considered to extend to other countries within West African (Ghana, Republic of Benin) and Cameroun. Locations and GPS coordinates of the samples, together with other relevant data will be document on-field.
2. Preparation of herbarium sheets: Collected samples will follow standard herbarium techniques – drying/pressing, mounting/labelling, preservation, shelving etc. in order to prepare good quality herbarium samples. The grant would help fund acquisition of herbarium materials (mounting card, adhesives etc.) needed for the project.
3. Digitization: All prepared herbarium sheets will be scanned and digital images and other information e.g. coordinates, locations, local uses and other remarks will be documented in a spreadsheet.
4. Web Database: The digitized samples and datasets will be cleaned and uploaded to MySQL database, which will be made available on the website to scientists and plant users around the world. This would be the first virtual herbarium in the country and probably in West African sub-continent.
5. Transfer of duplicate type specimens: Duplicate type specimens will be prepared and hard copies be sent to relevant national and international herbaria by courier.

Institution:

IH Code:

Country:

Target areas:

Applicant First Name/s:

email:

FIELD COLLECTION

"Other" target:

FELIX IFEANYI NWAFOR

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Applicant Last Name/s:

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