Resources Available in the Natural Sciences (RAVNS)

Objective:  The aim of this project is to draft a standard for describing natural history collections.

Overview:  Representing the interests of RLG Programs' natural history partners, the Resources Available in the Natural Sciences Working Group has drafted a standard for describing natural history collections. Researchers will be able to search these collection-level descriptions online and find information applicable to their work.

The RLG Programs group is coordinating its efforts with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, in an enormous global project to make natural science and history data available. The standard is currently going through the process of being refined and approved through GBIF's Taxonomic Databases Working Group.

RAVNS working group participants

Carol Butler, Co-Chair
National Museum of Natural History
Doug Holland
Missouri Botanical Garden
Barbara Mathe
American Museum of Natural History
Connie Rinaldo
Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University
Susan Fraser
New York Botanical Garden
Neil Thomson, Co-Chair
Natural History Museum (UK)
Tim White
Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University