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An opportunity to support global scientific research by volunteering online with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, one of the world's largest botanical and fungal collections.
Overview
Salary
Voluntary role - no salary
Location
Other - Online
Nomad Friendly?
Expires
Expires at anytime
Organisation Summary
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, boasts one of the largest and most comprehensive botanical and fungal collections in the world, holding over 8 million specimens. This historic and diverse collection is a rich resource for scientists, historians, artists, students, and the general public. The mission is to digitize these collections and make them accessible worldwide, supporting scientific and educational endeavors.
Role Summary
- Transcribe handwritten information from specimen labels
- Work flexible hours from home
- Contribute to global scientific research and education
Role Requirements
- Ability to read and transcribe handwritten labels
- Reliable internet connection
- No prior experience necessary, tutorials will be provided
Application Process Details
- Create an account on the DigiVol portal
- Visit Kew's institution page
- For help or queries, contact DigiCrowd@kew.org
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is seeking online volunteers to assist in transcribing herbarium and fungarium specimen labels. Our collections hold over 8 million pressed plant and fungal specimens from around the world, representing a vast diversity of species and historic material. These specimens are invaluable for scientific research, historical studies, and educational purposes.
As a volunteer, your role will involve transcribing handwritten information from specimen labels, including details such as who collected the specimen, where and when it was collected, and the Latin names or identifications. This process is crucial for making our collections digitally accessible and searchable online, enabling scientists, historians, artists, students, and the general public to explore and utilize these resources.
The organisation is exciting because it holds one of the largest and most comprehensive botanical and fungal collections globally, with a geographic range and historical depth unmatched by other institutions. Our goal is to make these collections available to a worldwide audience, supporting scientific discovery and education.
The role involves working from home at any time of the day, with no prior experience necessary. Tutorials will be provided, and all transcriptions will be validated to ensure accuracy. This opportunity allows you to contribute to important scientific and educational efforts without the need for physical presence or specialized qualifications.
Benefits include supporting global scientific research, gaining experience in botanical and mycological collections, and contributing to a major cultural and scientific institution. To participate, create an account on the DigiVol portal and visit Kew’s institution page. For any queries, you can contact [email removed - click apply for more details].
Join us in helping to digitize and share our invaluable collections with the world, answering key scientific questions about plant and fungal diversity, distribution, and history.
