VSU Hosts iDigBio Workshop

The Department of Biology at Valdosta State University hosted a workshop on digitization of biological collections Jan. 27-29.

Herbarium digitization specialists from across the country gathered on campus to exchange ideas and to produce a document on best practices in herbarium digitization. The three-day event, sponsored by iDigBio and the Southeastern Regional Network of Expertise and Collections (SERNEC), included a tour of university’s herbarium to see local digitization efforts demonstrated by student assistants employed through National Science Foundation (NSF) funding.

An organization involving biologists and computer scientists at the University of Florida and Florida State University, iDigBio is the NSF’s national hub to promote digitization of all biological collections. The SERNEC is involved in an NSF-funded effort to digitize specimens from herbaria throughout the Southeastern United States.

Contact Dr. J. Richard Carter, professor of biology and curator of the herbarium at VSU, at (229) 333-5763 or rcarter@valdosta.edu to learn more.