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August 26, 2021

Digitizing biology!

Herbaria are collections of plant specimens. Over the last 200 years, scientists have gathered over more than 5 million plant specimens, stored across multiple herbaria. Digitizing these collections make them accessible for study by a larger number of researchers, land managers, conservationists, and the public. That was the herculean task taken on by a multi-institutional team of NSF-funded researchers. Learn more with NSF's The Discovery Files.

Credit: National Science Foundation


Digitizing biology!

Hi! I'm Mo Barrow, with The Discovery Files, from NSF -- the U.S. National Science Foundation.

I have a question for you. What are herbaria?

Herbaria are collections of plant specimens, and over the last 200 years, scientists have gathered over more than 5 million plant specimens, stored across multiple herbaria.

And now! They are being digitized.

That was the herculean task taken on by a multi-institutional team of NSF-funded researchers, led by Appalachian State University, and reviewed in a study conducted at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

But why?

Herbaria provide a major resource for researchers studying evolution, extinction and climate change and the researchers often discover entirely new species. Digitizing these collections make them accessible to a larger number of researchers, land managers, conservationists, and the public -- like you -- for further study.

Increasing amounts of our natural habitats are lost to urbanization and deforestation. Herbaria play a vital role, offering researchers a botanical archive of ecosystems long-since developed or demolished.

So, if you're ever asked, "What are herbaria?" You too, can school the questioner.

Discover how the U.S. National Science Foundation is advancing research at nsf.gov.

"The discovery files" covers projects funded by the government's National Science Foundation. Federally sponsored research -- brought to you, by you! Learn more at nsf.gov or on our podcast.


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