The museum of the earth will expand access to the collection of cenozoic corals from the western atlantic by digitizing specimens and sharing data through online portals and educational resources

The Museum of the Earth received a $203,952 Project Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the Museums for America (CFDA 45.301) program. The grant will enable the museum to expand access to its collection of Cenozoic corals from the Western Atlantic by digitizing 200 specimens and creating 50 illustrated species pages for publication on the museum's free, web-based educational portal. The project will involve hiring a collections assistant and training a team of interns and volunteers to associate labels, enter data, and re-box the specimens. This effort will enhance the long-term preservation and accessibility of the coral collection for scientists, students, and the public to better understand how coral reefs, a threatened ocean habitat, respond to environmental stresses.

Project activities will include photographing 200 specimens and creating 50 illustrated species pages that will be published on the museum's free, web-based educational portal. The museum will hire a collections assistant and train them in all aspects of specimen digitization and curation. A team of interns and volunteers will be trained to associate labels to specimens, enter information for the specimens in the collections database, and RE-box items. This project will enhance the collection's long-term preservation and accessibility for scientists, students, and the public to understand how coral reefs, which are one of the ocean's most threatened habitats, respond to environmental stresses.