Abstract Detail

Recent Topics Posters

Burke, Janelle [1], Durand, Amber [2], Colon, Tyler [3], Koenemann, Daniel [4].

Digitization of the Howard University herbarium.

Howard University one of only two historically black colleges or universities (HBCUs) with an active, registered herbarium. The Howard University Herbarium (HUDC) is a collection of ca. 12,000 plant specimens housed in Just Hall on Howard University’s main campus. Our university is one institution in the collaborative Mid-Atlantic Megalopolis project. This project investigates vascular plants throughout the largest, oldest, and most populated urban corridor in the US, from Washington, D.C. to New York City. The Howard Herbarium is the smallest herbarium in the network, though contains main historic, local collections. The Howard University Mid-Atlantic collection is now completely digitized, including specimen imaging, label transcribing, and georeferencing. As part of this effort, eight undergraduate students were trained in specimen digitization, and hundreds more participated in specimen transcription through multiple transcription crowd-sourcing events. Further scientific outreach on the importance of herbarium specimens was completed by undergraduate students in the form of outreach videos and social media accounts.

Related Links:
Mid-Atlantic Herbaria portal

1 - Howard University, Dept. Of Biology, 415 College St. NW, Just Hall 328, Washington, DC, 20059, United States
2 - 3864 Button Gate Ct, 3864 Button Gate Ct, Lithonia, GA, 30038, United States
3 - Howard University, Biology, Howard University, Washington, DC, 20059, United States
4 - Howard University, Biology Department, 415 College Street, NW, Washington , DC, 20059, USA

Keywords:
specimen digitization
natural history collections
crowdsourcing
training.

Presentation Type:
Session: P, Recent Topics Posters
Location: Arizona Ballroom/Starr Pass
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2019
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PRT037
Abstract ID:1421
Candidate for Awards:None