Natural Sciences Collections are unique resources that engage researchers, learners, communities and practitioners in global topics about the environment, earth climate, biodiversity, the evolution of life and our very own human history.

Mirroring the University vision as a global civic institution that provides distinctive education and innovative research the Earth Science Collections aims to encourage, foster and promote engagement with some of society’s greatest environmental challenges and opportunities (e.g. natural resource demand, decolonisation, biodiversity loss, climate change, environmental justice, evolution of life).

Embedded in the Faculty of Science and Engineering we support cutting-edge research as well as impactful teaching to help understand the world and the environment in which we live, how we interact with it and the interventions we can deploy to drive societal progress.

Access to Earth’s Heritage:

by connecting people, collection data and specimens

Database 

Promoting Environmental Awareness:

through collection-inspired learning, engagement, dialog and research

Waves of Change, Milo’s book

Building civic and global connections:

by connecting people with collections (how? through research, events, workshops, outreach?)

Examples: GHLH Bristol Rocks

Embracing digital futures:

by exporting data to global platforms – GBIF, iDigBio, or DiSSCo

Examples: GB3D, Open access papers, VR museum

Creating new ways of thinking and working:

by instigating explorative and interdisciplinary approaches to research or analytical methods

Example: Is it Magma?

Progressing anti-colonial pedagogy:

through teaching tools and storylines that address colonial legacies

Stimulating cultural exchange:

By connecting the arts, sciences and humanities

Example: Earthart

Excelling student success and excellence:

through co-curricular opportunities and specimen based practical learning

Example: Collection workshop programme

Providing historic context:

through archives and manuscripts

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Example: Mary Anning Script

Initiating cross-disciplinary enquiry:

through cocreation across the arts, sciences and humanities and in partnership

Example: Migrating rocks

Understanding energy and natural resource:

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