JURASSICA and 36 institutions, take a decisive step towards unlocking the full potential of natural history collections in Switzerland. Together, they publish and endorse a strategy based on 6 pillars and 52 key activities to better preserve collections, ensure their accessibility and promote their use for science and society.
The Strategy for natural history collection in Switzerland 2025-2035, the first of its kind in Switzerland, is a nationwide approach to maintain, to enhance and to use natural history collections.
Developed by and for natural history institutions in Switzerland, the strategy has been endorsed by the Directors or senior managers from 37 Swiss institutions or entities. JURASSICA engage thus in a concerted approach based on 6 pillars and 52 key activities covering natural history collection management and use, specimen digitisation, data availability, accessibility and interoperability as well as training and education.
The proposed activities are divided into joint actions to be undertaken collaboratively from within the community or with strategic partners, and institutional actions to be undertaken by JURASSICA itself.
The signatory institutions will thus address their shared issues and develop common research goals. Common initiatives will be fostered and funding consolidated. In this way, JURASSICA intends to fully valorise the resources of natural history collections in Switzerland for science and society.
Download the Strategy
As part of this strategy, the Swiss Natural History Collections (SwissNatColl) portal was created and is now accessible.
This portal provides access to biological and paleontological data derived from specimens digitized by the participating institutions. More than one million specimens are already available, and this number will continue to grow.