Moriarty Science Seminar: Future-proofing Museum Collections
December 9, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Hybrid: Online and At the Museum
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Future-proofing Museum Collections: Collections Care and Access at Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Monday, December 9, 2024, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Earth Theater and online via Zoom
Featuring Kathy Hollis, Carnegie Museum of Natural History
This lecture is free. Museum admission is not required.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History stewards a collection that is more than a repository of specimens—it is a dynamic archive of the natural world, each item telling a unique story about our planet and our place in it. From butterflies and trilobites to preserved snakes and ancient pottery, these collections are primary data about the natural world. Future-proofing collections—ensuring preservation and accessibility for generations—has long been the duty of natural history museums. Yet, shifting research methods, global environmental and technological changes, and evolving perspectives within the museum profession have all changed how collections must be cared for and made accessible. Recent projects have laid a strong foundation for the future, but without a museum-wide strategy, their full potential remains unrealized. In 2022, Carnegie Museum of Natural History set bold, 10-year goals through its opportunity assessment “Evolving Natural History: A Roadmap for the Next Decade,” which includes strategic objectives for future-proofing collections. To bring this vision to life, Carnegie Museum of Natural History is undertaking a comprehensive strategy—one that is focused on collaborative teamwork, building our technological capacity, and modernizing collection management practices. By implementing this strategy, the collections in our care can become a true public resource for our community and collaborators to inspire, educate, and engage for generations to come.
Click here to register to attend virtually via Zoom. Registration is not necessary to attend in person. Museum admission is not included with the lecture. Visitor Services staff can direct you to Earth Theater on arrival.
