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WeDigBio 2024 Digitisation Blitz at Kew Gardens
Volunteer as a transcriber and get an exclusive behind the scenes day at Kew Gardens. For more information and to book – https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/digitisation-blitz-2024
Help us digitise the treasures of Kew’s Herbarium and we’ll take you behind the scenes in one of the most biodiverse places on Earth – no experience required.
This year, Kew is taking part in WeDigBio, a four-day worldwide engagement event for digitising biocollections.
Kew’s Herbarium currently houses around 7 million preserved botanical specimens that provide a wealth of information about plants. Our specimens are essential for scientific research into biodiversity, conservation, sustainable development and evolutionary relationships. Every plant specimen is housed within cupboards, meaning that currently the information is far from the reach of anyone who is unable to visit the Herbarium in person. However, through online digitisation we are able to share images of the specimens and information about them, to anyone who requires it – such as scientists, artists and historians, no matter where they live in the world.
During your one-day volunteer event at Kew, you will help us unlock this information. You will transcribe Herbarium specimen labels from images under the guidance and help of Kew staff. No prior experience is needed as help will be on hand throughout the day to guide you. This is your chance to have a tour behind the scenes of the Herbarium, discover how the specimens are imaged and learn how scientists use Herbarium specimen data in their research!
Contact DigiCrowd@kew.org for enquiries.