Heavens Above, Knowledge Below: Asian Earth and Planetary Sciences

NACIRA (National Committee for Information Resources on Asia) provides a forum for librarians, archivists, and researchers who are involved in the collection, development, and use of library resources and services for Asian and Middle Eastern studies. This year, NACIRA's annual conference addresses resources in UK collections for the study of earth, environmental, and planetary sciences as they pertain to Asia. This will encompass natural history, maritime history, astronomy and astrology, and geography and topography. Speakers come from the Royal Geographical Society, the Royal Astronomical Society, the National Maritime Museum, and the Natural History Museum. The conference programme also includes NACIRA's Annnual General Meeting.

Please note: lunch is not included as part of the conference proceedings.

10.30 Registration and coffee

10.45 Welcome. Dr Luisa Elena Mengoni, Head of Asian and African Collections, The British Library

10.50 Opening remarks. Dr Edward Weech, Librarian, Royal Asiatic Society

11.00 'Perspectives on Asia in the History and Collections of the Royal Geographical Society'. Dr Katherine Parker, Cartographic Collections Manager, Royal Geographical Society

11.45 'Between a rock and a hardback: collections at the Natural History Museum for the study of earth, environment and planetary sciences relating to Asia.' Dr Richard Wragg, Head of Library and Archives, Natural History Museum

12.30 – 13.30 Lunch break

13.30 NACIRA Annual General Meeting

14.15 Tea

14.30 'Asian collections at the Royal Astronomical Society'. Dr Sian Prosser, Librarian and Archivist, Royal Astronomical Society

15.15 'The maritime environments of Asia: Manuscript sources at Royal Museums Greenwich'. Graham Thompson, Archivist and Assistant Curator, Royal Museums Greenwich

16.00 Conference ends

Location: British Library, Foyle Room, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB

Host or Publisher NACIRA National Committee for Information Resources on Asia