One of the main research goals of the Allen lab is to enable large-scale data mobilization. One of the hidden sources of data are from museum specimens. There are estimated to be 1-2 billion specimens with data on where and when specimens have been collected from in the United States. Our community science project Notes from Nature in collaboration with Zooniverse works with the public to help transcribe critical data like location and date from museum specimens. This project aims to leap the specimen digitization gap (DigiLeap).
We are working with Biodiversity Literacy in Undergraduate Education BLUE to create education modules for undergraduates that focus on biodiversity data and incorporate data science standards and critical thinking around specimen data and evoutionary and ecological questions. See our modules focusing on genetics, museum specimens, and coevolution of lice.
AllenLab 