GBIF to Host a Virtual Workshop on “Advancing the Catalogue of the World’s Natural History Collections” as Part of the SYNTHESYS+ Project

photo of pressed plant specimens

Specimen detail, Trinidad National Herbarium. Photo 2019 by Maheva Bagard Laursen | GBIF, licensed under CC BY 2.0.

On behalf of numerous partners and stakeholders, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) will convene a virtual workshop and international consultation in March and April 2020 with the aim of fleshing out a shared vision, road map and set of priorities for developing the scope, content and services included in a catalogue of the world’s natural history collections.

This workshop, Advancing the Catalogue of the World’s Natural History Collections, consists of two parts:

  • A pair of two-hour preparatory webinars on 12-13 March 2020, in which participants will discuss this draft ideas paper;
  • An open, facilitated online consultation that will run between 17-29 April 2020.

Participants in these events will outline the scope, content and services included in a catalogue of the world’s natural history collections and develop a shared road map for implementation across the biodiversity informatics community. The workshop is the first of three that GBIF will lead as part of the European Commission-funded SYNTHESYS+ project. It will also provide inputs into several intersecting initiatives, including the alliance for biodiversity knowledge.

Visit the GBIF website to find more details, including times, dates and links to registration for both the March webinars and the April consultation.

BHL has been an Associate Participant in GBIF since 2014.

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Grace Costantino served as the Outreach and Communication Manager for the Biodiversity Heritage Library from 2014 to 2021. In this capacity, she developed and managed BHL's communication strategy, oversaw social media initiatives, and engaged with the public to excite audiences about the wealth of biodiversity heritage available in BHL. Prior to her role as Outreach and Communication Manager, Grace served as the Digital Collections Librarian for Smithsonian Libraries and as the Program Manager for BHL.