Preserving Natural Science Collections: Chronicle of Our Environmental Heritage

Natural science collections are documents of change, the fragmentary archive on which we base our knowledge of the natural wor ld. Encoded within these collections are the past of our planet, the ledger of our interaction wi t h nature and the record we decipher to ensure a future for our own and other species. These vast yet incomplete reference collections are the primary source that scientists consult to understand biological diversity, explore evolutionary relationships and monitor global change. Against a backdrop of disappearing habitats, species extinctions and the destruction of sites of geological and paleontological significance, the specimens in natural science collections have become nonrenewable resources of vital importance to science and society. As scientists seek to comprehend the mysteries of the natural wor ld, each new research technique they employ expands access to the wealth of information inherent in the natural science specimens and increases the value of the collections to society. Specimens have been utilized to shed new light on the extinction of dinosaurs, trace the history of AIDS and the epidemiology of Lyme disease, and prospect for mineral resources. Through exhibits and other public programs, the collections instill a sense of wonder and an appreciation for nature in millions of people the world over. While virtually unparalleled in their size and diversity, these collections represent just a fraction of the estimated 10 to 30 million species thought to exist. Consequently, the collections continue to grow, reflecting the fundamental human desire to understand nature. Virtually all explorations during the past 300 years, from discoveries on earth toforays into the solar system, have resulted in additions to the collected resource in the natural sciences. The specimens range from fossils to living microbes and—with the materials used to prepare, store, exhibit and record them—they encompass every known class of material. During the 19th and early 20t h centuries, the pace of collecting was matched by the pace of research into specimen preparation and conservation methods. As t ime passed, however, the importance accorded to preservation research diminished and the resources to support it diminished as well . The same scientific rigor that is expected in research based on specimens has not been applied to the preparation and contained care of the specimens themselves. To preserve these complex and valuable collect ions for our continued use and as a useful legacy for posterity is at once an enormous responsibility and an intriguing challenge. Five factors shape this challenge: • the size and diversity of the collections and their documentation; • the many unrecorded treatments specimens undergo, limiting our ability to assess the impact of those treatments on preservation or specimen-based research; • the inadequate space and inappropriate environments in which many collections are housed and used; • the shortage of human resources for the care of collections and the limited educat ional and training opportunities in collections care specialties; and • the lack of scientific research to address the preservation of these collections and the lack of interdisciplinary dialogue between natural scientists and specialists i n other fields. Fundamental to meeting this challenge is responsible stewardship of collections by all those who are entrusted wi t h their care. Natural science specimens are intended to be used; prudent planning and attention to collections growth, preparation, post-preparation care, documentation, storage, exhibition and research are crucial to their present and future utility. An expanded public awareness of the significance of the collections as information resources is also essential to meeting the preservation challenge. By bringing behind-the-scenes activities into public view, institutions can demonstrate that their collections are vital to the public interest and thus worthy of support. This report recommends action in the areas outlined below. (Strategies for implementation of each recommendation are presented in chapter three, "Meeting the Challenge: Recommendat ions and Strategies.") Stewardship of Collections • Collecting ins t i tut ions must make collections care a priority in their mission statements, management policies and resource allocations. Thi s commitment should be commensurate with the inherent value of the information the collections contain. • Collecting institutions must develop strategic plans for improved collections care. • Individuals whose research results in collections must ensure the long-term preservation of collections by planning for their ongoing care. • Funding agencies must support collections care initiatives in natural science institutions. • Collections care and conservation organizations must support institutional collections care initiatives. Public Awareness • On the local or regional level, collecting institutions should create programs to enhance public awareness of the significance of their collections and the shared responsibilities of stewardship. • On the national level, public awareness initiatives must be developed to highlight the value of collections to society and the need for collections conservation. Staffing, Education and Training • An intensive graduate program in the conservation of natural science collections must be established immediately to train a core group of conservators. • An ongoing graduate program in the conservation of natural science collections must be established to train conservators for the future. • Conservators from other fields should be made aware of the special needs of natural science collections and the areas in which their expertise is relevant. • Directors, research scientists and collections managers must gain a fuller understanding of their roles and responsibilities in collections care. • Institutions must develop, support and encourage staff education and interdisciplinary professional exchange as investments in collections care. Technology Transfer The natural science community should seek the transfer of information and technology from other conservation fields, scientific disciplines and industry. Conservation Research • A new interdisciplinary conservation research program should be established at one or more leading institutions. • Regional or centralized conservation analytical services should be made available. • Agencies that fund collections care should expand the scope of their support to include conservation research. Guidelines and Standards of Practice • The natural science community should establish guidelines or standards of practice in all aspects of collections care. • Specifications for materials and methods used in preparing, storing, labeling and exhibiting natural science specimens should be developed and updated routinely. • Efficient methods to document specimen preparation, sampling and other treatments or use should be developed to ensure the research integrity of the collections. • Databases and networks should be developed and maintained to provide the widest societal access to the information inherent in natural science collections