Behind the Science with Curator of Flies Torsten Dikow
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“What is the Pinned Insect Digitization Conveyor?”
With more than 35 million specimens, the Smithsonian insect collection is one of the largest entomology collections in the world. It is an archive of global insect biodiversity, shedding light on the most diverse group of animals on the planet. Making such a sprawling collection, and the trove of scientific data it contains, accessible to researchers around the world is a challenge the museum facing head on.
Entomologist Dr. Torsten Dikow is part of the team currently working to digitize a large swath of the collection’s pollinating insect specimens using the museum’s Pinned Insect Digitization Conveyor, a state-of-the-art system that has never before been used in North America. Torsten will discuss the How and Why of digitizing more than 325,000 bees, flies, butterflies and beetles and their associated data labels. He will also explore the importance of making all of this data accessible to science and the public given the vital role insect pollinators play in natural environments.
Registration is encouraged. Space is filled on a first come first served basis.
With more than 35 million specimens, the Smithsonian insect collection is one of the largest entomology collections in the world. It is an archive of global insect biodiversity, shedding light on the most diverse group of animals on the planet. Making such a sprawling collection, and the trove of scientific data it contains, accessible to researchers around the world is a challenge the museum facing head on.
Entomologist Dr. Torsten Dikow is part of the team currently working to digitize a large swath of the collection’s pollinating insect specimens using the museum’s Pinned Insect Digitization Conveyor, a state-of-the-art system that has never before been used in North America. Torsten will discuss the How and Why of digitizing more than 325,000 bees, flies, butterflies and beetles and their associated data labels. He will also explore the importance of making all of this data accessible to science and the public given the vital role insect pollinators play in natural environments.
Registration is encouraged. Space is filled on a first come first served basis.
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Where is it happening?
10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington D.C., DC, United States, Washington, District of Columbia 20560
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherSmithsonian National Museum of Natural History
