The Natural History Museum in London will lead a new £155 million initiative to digitize the UK’s natural science collections. Over the course of ten years, this ambitious project called DiSSCo UK, funded by UK Research and Innovation and led by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, will involve approximately 90 museums across the country.
The natural science collections in the UK are vast, consisting of over 137 million items that researchers use to tackle global challenges such as biodiversity loss and food security. By digitizing these collections, a comprehensive data set will be created for future generations of environmental scientists to solve ecological challenges.
Michelle Donelan, Science Secretary, stated that this program would enable researchers to utilize museum collections to develop solutions to pressing issues such as climate-resistant crops and identifying potential locations for future pandemics through studying bats. The Natural History Museum, which manages an impressive collection of 80 million specimens, has already digitized nearly 6 million items and made them available online.
To enhance the scale, speed, and impact of the UK digitization project even further, museum scientists are currently exploring the use of a robot arm to move and photograph specimens at an unprecedented rate. According to Doug Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum, the UK’s natural science collections totaling more than 138 million specimens represent a wealth of data that can be leveraged through AI and robotics advancements. Embracing these developments can revolutionize science globally, with impacts felt in sectors such as food, health, energy, and the environment. The museum is thrilled to spearhead this crucial project.
