Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections – 41st Annual Meeting
7-11 September 2026
Iziko South African Museum • Cape Town, South Africa
Bridging Hemispheres: Collaborating for a Unified Natural Heritage
You are warmly invited to attend the 41st Annual Meeting of the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC), to be held from 7 to 11 September 2026 at the Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town. This will be the first SPNHC meeting held in Africa, and we look forward to welcoming colleagues from across the world.
The meeting will take place at the Iziko South African Museum, located in the historic Company’s Garden in central Cape Town. Established in 1825, Iziko is one of the oldest museums in sub-Saharan Africa and houses over a million catalogued specimens documenting African biodiversity. It plays a leading role in scientific research and public engagement. Cape Town offers excellent conference infrastructure, a range of accommodation options, and access to world-renowned natural and cultural attractions.
Details on field trips and accommodation will be provided in future circulars and on the conference website. Pre- and post-conference field tripsand collection visits are being organised to showcase South Africa’s biodiversity and long tradition of natural history research, offering delegates an opportunity to experience the country’s rich natural and cultural heritage.
Call for Symposia, Workshops, and Themed Sessions
We invite proposals for symposia, themed sessions and workshops that align with the conference theme and cover any aspect of natural history collections management or research. Proposals that bring together diverse perspectives and partners from different regions, particularly those strengthening collaboration between the global North and South, are especially encouraged. If you would like to chair or convene a session, symposium or workshop, please submit your proposal using the Google Form by 31 January 2026. Please note that the general call for abstracts for individual talks will open in February 2026. Confirmed sessions, symposia and workshops will be posted on the conference website once available. Suggested subthemes to guide the development of proposals are outlined below, and we welcome submissions that address the following topics:
● Global collaboration and capacity building: Strengthening North-South partnerships, training programmes and collaborative networks that support curation, management and professional skills development. This includes building taxonomic expertise in the Global South through cross-institutional mentorship and integrating molecular and traditional approaches to support biodiversity research.
● Decolonisation and ethical practice in collections: Addressing colonial legacies through equitable governance, transparency, repatriation and inclusive practices in collections care, access and interpretation.
● Indigenous knowledge, co-curation and data sovereignty: Working with Indigenous and local communities, applying CARE principles alongside FAIR data standards, and ensuring respectful access, benefit-sharing and community-defined protocols.
● Standards and interoperability of collections data: Data standards, persistent identifiers and linked data for the extended specimen concept, and implementing FAIR data practices with reproducible data pipelines.
● Digitisation at scale and digital access: High-throughput imaging, transcription, quality control, open data and virtual access (including virtual repatriation) to broaden digital access to collections.
● Citizen science and public participation: Community-driven digitisation projects, global transcription events, field-based initiatives and other approaches that broaden participation and strengthen the collections community.
● Innovations in imaging and analysis: Advancing CT scanning, 3D imaging, photogrammetry, digital twins and AI/ML techniques that accelerate research using collections and their data.
● Genomic resources and biobanking: Developing cryo-collections and biorepositories aligned with GGBN standards, linking voucher specimens with tissue samples and sequences, and managing permits and compliance (ABS/Nagoya Protocol).
● Policy, permits and responsible use: Managing compliance with CITES regulations, biosecurity requirements and access and benefit-sharing agreements, and developing institutional policies that support ethical and legal use of collections and associated dat.
● Preventive conservation, risk and resilience: Implementing sustainable preservation strategies, environmental control and integrated pest management, conducting risk assessments, and improving disaster preparedness and response for collections.
● Collections for biodiversity and climate action: Using specimen data to support biodiversity assessments, monitor invasive species, establish ecological baselines, and contribute to climate change research, conservation planning and policy development.
● Education, skills and workforce development: Defining core competencies for collections professionals, developing mentorship programmes and training opportunities, and strengthening workforce capacity across institutions and regions.
● Evaluating collection use, value and impact: Developing approaches to assess and communicate the research, educational and policy value of collections and the data derived from them.
Email: spnhc2026@iziko.org.za
Future circulars will provide details regarding abstract submission format and deadline, accommodation, registration fees, and travel information.
Organising Committee
Iziko South African Museum: Mr Adriaan Jordaan, Dr Romala Govender, Dr Wayne Florence, Mr Mark Lisher, Dr Dylan Clarke, Dr Noel Solani, and Ms Melody Kleinsmith. South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity: Mr Nkosinathi Mazungula. National Museum, Bloemfontein: Dr Lizel Hugo-Coetzee. KwaZulu-Natal Museum: Dr Thembeka Nxele. South African National Biodiversity Institute: Dr Anthony Magee. Durban Natural Science Museum: Dr Leigh Richards. Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections: Ms Ruth Seyler. Independent: Ms Audrey Ndaba.
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