Collezioni scientifiche
In Switzerland, numerous collections are stored in museums and universities and are very valuable for research, education and culture. However, their value is not sufficiently recognised, access to collection data for research is often difficult, and there is a lack of professionalised staff to expand and maintain the collections. Science is also developing new methods of species identification that need to be integrated, tested and standardised. Various measures have already been considered and initiated to make better use of collections.
Swiss natural history collections network (SwissCollNet)
An initiative for the development of a long-term Natural History Collections Strategy in Switzerland
Goals of the initiative
- promote the management and curation of natural history collections in Switzerland;
- unify physical and virtual access to biodiversity and geodiversity information;
- provide new, linked and open access to data associated with collections;
- create a platform to encourage and supprot the scientific use of natural history collections.
Further information about SwissCollNet will be published in January 2021
The federal government is promoting an improved access to natural science collections with a total amount of CHF 12.37 million until 2024. The digitised collections provide unique data for climate, biodiversity or agricultural research, for example. To this end, the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) has launched the Swiss Natural History Collections Network, SwissCollNet, to collaborate with museums, universities, and botanical gardens in laying the foundations for the digitisation and long-term management and use of the collections.
Immagine: ETHZ-BIB/Pierre KellenbergerOn the occasion of the National Day of Natural History Collections, 26 Swiss institutions are offering you a glimpse behind the scenes. From now on, the curators will be telling you the stories of selected objects. But beware: one of the three stories of each institution is completely made up! Watch these fantastic stories and learn more about the Collections Day program.
Immagine: Christoph GermannLa Suisse tend à faire mauvais usage de ses vastes collections de sciences naturelles, lesquelles contiennent plus de 60 millions d'objets. À l'heure actuelle, seulement 17 % des objets sont enregistrés numériquement et donc réellement accessibles pour l'évaluation scientifique. C'est ce que montre le rapport «Importance nationale des collections suisses de sciences naturelles» de l'Académie suisse des sciences naturelles (SCNAT). Par conséquent, la SCNAT préconise d’ investir davantage pour faire en sorte que les collections constituent une infrastructure de recherche réellement efficace.
Immagine: Naturhistorisches Museum Basel