The Biodiversity Collections Network (BCoN), in collaboration with the U.S. Culture Collection Network, has published a new Special Report in the journal BioScience providing guidance on implementing a specimen management plan requirement for research proposals that involve collecting or generating specimens. This requirement, which was first proposed in the National Academies report on biological collections and then supported by the CHIPS and Science Act, is now in place for select National Science Foundation solicitations.
The article provides:
- Examples of current sample management guidance at federal agencies
- Value-added benefits of a Specimen Management Plan
- Recommendations for implementation and evaluation of Specimen Management Plans
- Suggested elements of a Specimen Management Plan