The purpose of the National Museum of Natural Science’s National Digital Archives Plan is twofold. The first goal is to collate natural specimens and data from around Taiwan and the world to establish a managed platform of digital content and knowledge for storage, research and display. What’s even more important is to explain and explore the status of various phenomena in natural science to help schools of all levels and the public in pursuing their educational goals. Towards these ends, the National Museum of Natural Science continued in 2007 to implement the Second Phase National Digital Archive Plan. In addition to the original project of developing the archives for the humanities and natural sciences in Taiwan, the National Museum of Natural Science also aims to promote humanist, social, economic and industrial initiatives and build links with international partners.
Currently, there are over 120, 000 specimens of vascular plants at the Museum, including over 25,000 specimens from regions other than Taiwan. Of these, the Museum has more than 10 type categories of specimens. Prior to the acceptance of specimens, they need to be verified. The determination of scientific names for plants requires analysis and comparison of different data such as comparison of type specimens or analysis of original descriptions. However, such literature is not complete in Taiwan and is scattered around the world. Considerable manpower, resources and time are wasted when scholars and researchers attempt to verify and publish newly found species. Therefore, the establishment of type categories is critical to a wide range of research, ranging from studies on classifications to biodiversity.
Meanwhile, the Museum is working with other museums and research organizations to exchange information and share knowledge and digital technology resources on an international scale. We are working to create a technical curriculum for digital archiving so that museums in remote places where the digital divide is larger can transfer the information. This will also develop for Taiwan a new mode of diplomacy among citizens in natural education and, moreover, establish a sound international reputation for Taiwan in the field of digital archiving.