The National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, is pleased to announce the second session of a six-week training program in the management, preservation, and use of natural history collections for professionals working in Latin American and Caribbean countries. This program, an initiative of the Director's Office and Museum's Latino Program and conceived by NMNH Director Cristin Samper, is made possible through the generous support of the Inter-American Development Bank, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Mexico-North Research Network, Inc. The first successful session was held in 2008. The second session will take place at the National Museum of Natural History, in Washington, DC, during the period from February 9 to March 20, 2009.
Created to strengthen technical and scientific cooperation between the National Museum of Natural History and Latin American and Caribbean countries, the program is designed to train colleagues working in public museums and not-for-profit research centers in best practices for managing, preserving, and utilizing natural history collections. Participants will collaborate with
Museum staff to identify best practices that can be applied within the context of their home institution's mission, resources, and environmental conditions. The goal of the program is to provide training that will enable participants to return to their countries with the expert knowledge to strengthen their home institutions.
In 2009, the program will support 10 participants.
Each participant will receive an award that will cover their travel from their country of origin to Washington, DC, and their lodging expenses in the DC metropolitan area. A living allowance will also be provided. Insurance costs will not be covered, but a medical emergency fund will be available.
Participants will be responsible for arranging any visas that may be necessary for their travel to the U.S. and for the cost of obtaining such visas.
For further information and forms, please visit www.mnh.si.edu/rc/cmtplacp/
