Workshop Registration is now open
If you have not yet registered for the main conference, please register today to take advantage of early registration rates. You can add Workshops to your registration.
If you have already completed your SPNHC 2026 conference registration, you can add workshops or other ticketed events through Oxford Abstracts using the same email address you originally used. From your profile menu, select My Registrations, open your SPNHC 2026 registration, and choose Modify Registration to reopen your form. Select any additional ticketed items, proceed through checkout to pay only for the new items, and you will receive an updated confirmation once the changes are complete.
Registration for field trips (offered September 6-7), closing banquet, and other social events coming soon.
Friday, 11 September 2026
09:00–12:00
Workshop — The Nagoya Protocol: Compliance & Best Practice
Cost: $50 • Lecturestyle format
Workshop Lead: Dirk Neumann (Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Germany)
Gain a clear understanding of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Nagoya Protocol, Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), and institutional due diligence obligations. This workshop highlights the CETAF Code of Conduct — the only internationally acknowledged Best Practice — and provides practical guidance for compliance, risk management, and responsible use of biological materials.
13:30–15:30
Workshop — Getting Started with ARK Persistent Identifiers
Cost: $30 • Smallgroup format (under 30 participants)
Workshop Lead: John Kunze (Drexel University Metadata Research Center, USA)
Persistent identifiers are essential for durable, citable, and interoperable data. This tutorial introduces ARKs — flexible, non-paywalled PIDs used by libraries, museums, archives, and research institutions worldwide. Participants will gain hands-on experience creating and managing ARKs and learn how they support long-term access to both physical and digital objects.
13:30–17:00
Workshop — From Physical Drawers to Digital Twins
Cost: $50 • Smallgroup format (under 30 participants)
Workshop Lead: Wouter Addink (DiSSCo, Netherlands)
Do you have a large collection that feels “digitally invisible”? This hands-on workshop shows you how to transform traditional specimen records into fully connected Digital Specimens using DiSSCo’s next generation infrastructure. Learn how Digital Specimen DOIs make your data citable, traceable, and globally linked — and practice adding annotations, identifications, and measurements directly to a living digital object.
13:30–17:00
Workshop — Furward Thinking: Alternative Fibres in Conservation Practice
Cost: $50 • Limited capacity
Workshop Leads: Arianna Lea Bernucci & Erica Read (NHM London, UK)
Explore innovative plant and animal fibres that can replace traditional Japanese tissue or cotton wool in conservation treatments. Through demonstrations and guided hands-on practice, participants will examine fibre properties, test their suitability for infills and packing, and learn new techniques for integrating these materials into conservation workflows.
13:30–17:00
Workshop — Best Practices for the Preservation of Wet Collections
Cost: $50 • Smallgroup format (under 50 participants) Workshop Lead: Dirk Neumann (Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Germany)
Learn practical, scalable strategies for maintaining fluid preserved collections of any size. This workshop covers environmental considerations, staffing realities, storage challenges, and achievable standards for long term stability. Participants will explore recommendations tailored to institutions ranging from major research collections to small regional museums.
Saturday, 12 September 2026
09:00–17:00 – Note Full Day
Workshop — Shipping of Biological Materials
Cost: $80 • Smallgroup format (under 50 participants)
Workshop Lead: Dirk Neumann (Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, Germany)
Shipping biological materials is increasingly complex — and mistakes can lead to delays, damage, or confiscation. This full-day workshop demystifies legal frameworks, customs processes, airwaybill requirements, and best practices for international transport. Participants will also receive IATA A180 training, required for shipping alcohol preserved specimens.
09:00–11:00
Workshop — From Field Notes to GBIF: Cleaning & Mobilizing Biodiversity Data
Cost: $30 • Limited capacity
Workshop Lead: Nikisha Singh (SANParks, South Africa)
Turn raw biodiversity observations into high quality, shareable data. This practical workshop covers Darwin Core standards, GBIF Name Matching, data cleaning workflows, and AI-assisted tools — all using real examples from South African citizen science and collections projects. Ideal for anyone working to mobilize biodiversity data for research and public engagement.
09:00–12:00
Workshop — Adhesives: Basic Understanding, Mixing, Using
Cost: $50 • Limited capacity
Workshop Lead: Erica Read (NHM London, UK)
Get hands-on experience with three essential conservation adhesives: Paraloid B72, Lascaux 498HV, and Klucel G. Learn how each adhesive behaves, when to use it, and how to mix it properly. Participants will practice application techniques, work with Japanese tissue, and leave with a stronger understanding of adhesive selection for both organic and inorganic materials.
09:00–12:00
Workshop — Bridging the Gap in Global IPM
Cost: $50 • Limited capacity
Workshop Leads: Armando Mendez & Suzanne Ryder (NHM London, UK)
Integrated Pest Management varies dramatically across climates — and SPNHC 2026 offers a unique opportunity to compare global approaches. This workshop blends technical skill building (identification, monitoring, nontoxic mitigation) with collaborative problem solving. Participants will work through real-world infestation scenarios and build networks across regions
and experience levels.
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