Scientific collections are the vast array of specimens, samples, and data that are contained in our nation's museums, zoos, aquaria, gardens, and research institutions. They are an important part of our nation's scientific enterprise, supporting research and discovery that informs our understanding of human health, agriculture, and the environment. It is essential that the nation make a sustained commitment to preserve and protect these valuable scientific resources.

On June 24, 2009, the Natural Science Collections Alliance (NSCA) - an AIBS member society - with the assistance of the AIBS Public Policy Office requested that President Obama sign a Presidential Executive Order that would establish a federal framework to promote the preservation and use of scientific collections.

At a July 13, 2009, Washington, DC, reception to celebrate the release of the Interagency Working Group on Scientific Collections (IWGSC) report, "Scientific Collections: Mission Critical Infrastructure for Federal Science Agencies," NSC Alliance president, Dr. William Y. Brown and AIBS director of policy Dr. Robert Gropp spoke with Dr. Holdren and other senior government officials about the need for an Executive Order. In the intervening months, a growing number of scientific organizations have endorsed the need for the proposed Executive Order.

Read the AIBS letter of support here.

For the full story on the Executive Order, please click here.

Click here to read AIBS' comments on the Final Draft Strategic Plan for Establishing a National Digital Biological Collections Resource.

Resources on Collections

Please use the fact sheets below whenever you are educating others about the value of scientific collections.

Funding	Research	Education	Biodiversity
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