DiSSCo UK digitizes millions of natural history specimens using AI

DiSSCo UK: DiSSCo UK is a national programme coordinating the digitization of natural science collections across UK museums, botanic gardens, universities and other institutions. It focuses on making specimens and their data openly accessible for research and public use through advanced scanning and analysis technologies. The programme is leading the effort described in the news to create a vast digital super-museum of UK specimens. Jenny Geroni: Jenny Geroni is head of Natural Sciences and Research at Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales, where she oversees natural history collections and research activities. She focuses on showcasing unique Welsh material and contributing to a broader UK-wide picture of biodiversity and environmental change. In the news, she describes how the initiative allows Welsh collections to contribute to national and international insights. Sarah Addezio: Sarah Addezio serves as programme delivery director for DiSSCo UK, managing the rollout of digitization efforts for natural science specimens. She emphasizes the role of robots and AI in accelerating the process of scanning and analyzing millions of items. The news quotes her on how the technology enables unprecedented connections and analysis of collection data. Dr. Vincent Smith: Dr. Vincent Smith is a research leader at the Natural History Museum in London, specializing in the use of natural history collections for studying long-term environmental and biological changes. He advocates for the integration of AI tools to enhance research capabilities. The news features his comments on how the project will supercharge understanding of past changes and help predict future impacts on species and climate. Dr. Joanna Dunster: Dr. Joanna Dunster is associate director of the Arts and Humanities Research Council, overseeing funding and strategic support for research projects in the arts and humanities. She has highlighted the potential of the digitized collections for both scientific research and public engagement. In the news, she discusses the project's ability to make natural history specimens accessible and its value for families and researchers. Arts and Humanities Research Council: The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) is a UK funding body that supports research and innovation in the arts and humanities as part of UK Research and Innovation. It provides grants for collaborative projects that advance cultural and scientific understanding. In this news, the AHRC is funding the DiSSCo UK initiative to digitize natural history collections using AI and robotics. Research Applications: The combined digital resource supports modeling of planetary changes, including climate impacts, food supply shifts, and species loss, while also aiding studies of minerals for green technologies. Digitization Technology: Robots and AI are transforming the scanning of specimens and their often handwritten labels, dramatically shortening what would otherwise be a centuries-long manual process. Public and Scientific Access: The initiative connects collections from over 100 UK organizations to enable open exploration by researchers and the public, revealing details from rare specimens to historical items like those collected by Charles Darwin.