Natural Sciences Collections Association

The Natural Sciences Collections Association (NatSCA) is the UK's organisation for representing Natural Science Collections and associated museum staff, and for communicating all relevant developments and news pertaining to our purpose.

We exist to promote natural sciences collections and their use and care, and our aims include acting as an advocate, providing training, and promoting best practice within the network of our colleagues and affiliated institutions.

OUR AIMS

• To increase awareness of the scientific and cultural value of Natural History Collections.
• To raise the standards of care and interpretation of Natural History Collections
• To facilitate the exchange of information amongst curators and managers of Natural History Collections.
• To promote the professional views of Natural History curators and conservators.
• To lobby for better resourcing of Natural History Collections.

WE ARE PRIMARILY FOCUSSED ON 5 KEY AREAS:

1. Profile for Collections care & access: We need to raise a strong profile for Natural Science Collections by effective advertising, both within the Museum community and with the General public, to be as Strong and as widely heard as those of Art, Social History and Science & Technology collections.
   We will identify and meet with our stakeholders and find out their requirements. Encouraging these partnerships with a wider audience such as librarians, recorders and amateur collectors will enable us to best serve our community, without diluting our professional standards.
2. Promoting Professional standards: We will represent Natural Science Conservation with reference to the PACR accreditation scheme, and Natural Science Curation on AMA. We will continue to informally advise the industry.
3. Training & research: We will organise national events, meetings and training seminars at all museums with natural science holdings and encourage research and publication of relevant papers in NatSCA News (Journal) and with other societies when relevant
4. Advocacy for Natural Science collections: We have a joint remit, to ensure advocacy and best practice for care for Natural Science Collections and for the best use of these collections, both being for the public benefit.
   We must respond to Local and National Policy Documents (such as the MA code of ethics).
5. Professional support network: We must continue to develop networks with other relevant organisations and with the 'isolated' collection managers/curators/conservators nationwide.
   Information on personal expertise can be asked for and published and as an expertise handbook / database (with a proviso that the persons give their permission, to satisfy the Data Protection Act).