Interview in Science with Wayne Clough, Secretary of the Smithsonian - online extended interview as well. Mention of the SI research grand challenges. Science 5 August 2011: 333 (6043), 694-695. [DOI:10.1126/science.333.6043.694]
The American Association of Museums' Centre for the Future of Museums has just launched a project on forcasting the future of museum ethics with the Institute for Museum Ethics.Good blog post on some of the issues.
Recent paper from Cheng et al in PNAS on using museum collections of formalin-preserved amphibia to investigate chytrid epidemics. Commentary from Lips. Linked in terms of techniques to Barry Clarke's work in the NHM. References/....more
Lips, K R Museum collections: Mining the past to manage the future PNAS June 7, 2011 vol. 108 no. 23 9323-9324
Cheng, T L et al. Coincident mass extirpation of neotropical amphibians with the emergence of the infectious fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis PNAS June 7, 2011 vol. 108 no. 23 9502-9507
Soto-Azat C, Clarke BT, Fisher MC, Walker SF, Cunningham AA (2009) Non-invasive sampling methods for the detection of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in archived amphibians. Dis Aquat Organ 84:163–166.
Useful article by Mark Fisher in the Art Newspaper on issues surrounding disposal and public benefit - stimulated by the recent Farrer seminar. A focus on art collections, but the principles and issues are relevant to natural history and library collections as well.
The UK parliament's House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology has released its report on strategically important minerals with a number of recommendations to government. The Natural History Museum, among others, made a written submission of evidence.
Useful summary and resources on developments in deaccessioning for some New York museums in the current difficult financial climate.
Science paper on Eocene climate using isotope evidence from museum collections. Latitudinal Gradients in Greenhouse Seawater δ18O: Evidence from Eocene Sirenian Tooth Enamel and Science 22 April 2011: 332 (6028), 455-458. [DOI:10.1126/science.1201182]
The US Fiscal commission has produced a draft report on possible savings in the Federal budget - and raises the possibility of introducing charges for entry to the Smithsonian to recoup possible budget cuts, drawing the comparison with private museums.
Natural History Museum flickr photostream for beetle identification.
