8/ Reaching beyond traditional connections with intention to grow community will increase the value of collections and the relevance of museums. More people using and contributing specimens, data, and diverse knowledge will help support and keep these incredible institutions relevant and thriving.

7/ Researchers should expand the network of contributors to museum collections.
Ex: Bell Museum created a network of people and organizations to salvage and contribute specimens for diverse scientific uses. This has sparked excitement in public engagement.
www.bellmuseum.umn.edu/salvage-wild...

6/ Researchers can building value-added resources to benefit community.
Ex: Research on Madagascar bird diversification led to the creation a database of DNA barcodes for endemic species that can be used for multiple types of eDNA and iDNA studies like leech blood surveys. doi.org/10.1111/1755...

5b/ Ex: A mutual interest in bill shape lead to a collaboration with a behavioral ecologist. We microCT-scanning barbets to examine multiple aspects of bird bills and the biomechanics of bill shape and material properties in resisting stress while excavating wood.
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...

5a/ Another way to increase access is to consider exploring novel research directions. Are there ways to go beyond your original research goals to explore collaborations to bring in different types of scientists into the museum community?

4b/ Ex: building collaborations to combine museum specimens and recent surveys has lead to novel insights into the diversification of birds in the Indian Subcontinent.

4a/ One way to increase access is for researchers to consider ways to extend their network of collaborators. It is especially important to include Global South researchers who do not have either the physical access or even the long history of knowing how to use museum collections.

3/ Most of bird biodiversity occurs in the Global South but most natural history museums are located in the Global North. The scientific community needs to address this disparity.
How can researchers increase inclusion and access to these collections resources?

2/ A collections acknowledgment recognizes the colonial history in the taking of specimens and building collections. @bellmuseum.bsky.social we use this statement as a commitment to advance knowledge in diverse ways and promote inclusive practices.

🔈 #BOUasm25 KEYNOTE

Sushma Reddy @sushred.bsky.social
University of Minnesota, USA

Using natural history collections to build community

Submit your abstract: bou.org.uk/event/a-d...

#ornithology 🪶

Yes!

There is more structure to the bird tree than this game acknowledges

Haha, I love that. I’ll think of you for icky and small inverts 😂