The National Science Foundation (NSF), Directorate for Biological Sciences has released a program solicitation for Advancing Digitization of Biodiversity Collections (ABDC). The program aims to increase and enhance national digital sources of biological and paleontological data collections.

"The information associated with various collections of organisms, such as geographic, paleogeographic and stratigraphic distribution, environmental habitat data, phenology, information about associated organisms, collector field notes, and tissues and molecular data extracted from the specimens, is a rich resource providing the baseline from which to further biodiversity research and provide critical information about existing gaps in our knowledge of life on earth. The national resource is structured at three levels: a central coordinating organization, a series of thematic networks based on an important research theme, and the physical collections. The national resource builds upon a sizable existing national investment in curation of the physical objects in scientific collections and contributes vitally to scientific research and technology interests in the United States. It will become an invaluable tool in understanding contemporary biological issues and challenges.”

For additional information, please see the program solicitation.

Recent awards made through this program.

Award Information

• Expected Number of Awards: 4-12
• Estimated Total Program Funding: $10,000,000

Full proposals due: October 19, 2012