What is a herbarium and what is a herbarium specimen?

What is a herbarium and what is a herbarium specimen? Do you ever remember picking a little flower, then placing it inside a book? After a few days, you would find a dry and completely flattened flower. With a bit of care, this flower could be stuck down on a board...
A day in the life…

A day in the life…

Here’s an opportunity to share with colleagues and members of the NSCF network just how special your work is. How to send your story: Online Follow this link: https://formfaca.de/sm/nMX076dQs or click the green button below Tell us what work you do and include a...

A lesson from the “The Peacelike Mongoose” by James Thurber

Kerstin Junker, ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute Do you remember James Thurber’s fable “The Peacelike Mongoose” about the little guy who got into serious trouble because he did not want to fight snakes? Well, the spotted guy in our story got into trouble, too,...

Photographing the collections

Kirstin Williams, KwaZulu-Natal Museum Photographs of Amblychilepas platyactis and Chicoreus ramosus We have regular requests from many scientists to examine specimens in our collections. It is often preferable to send photographs to scientists instead of actual...
The path ahead

The path ahead

Aabid Abrahams, Iziko Museums of South Africa As the coronavirus pandemic continues on, many museums across South Africa are rapidly responding to the changing situation. Institutions of all sizes are confronted with uncertainties, with no specific date for when the...

Invite | NSCF Virtual Forum 2021 Hey, haven’t you been waiting long enough? I mean, the Forum should have been held in October 2020, BUT COVID! Then February 2021, BUT NSCF HUB! BUT now, we are stoked to tell you that the Forum is here!…whoop whoop! The...
NSCF Hub continues to operate during lockdown

NSCF Hub continues to operate during lockdown

The NSCF Hub continues to be fully operational under all alert levels of the national lockdown, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. All staff members are working from home, and the forum and meetings will continue to take place...