The Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections commits to enhancing inclusion,
diversity, equity, and accessibility in our organization and the work we do. The Society
acknowledges our lack of direct focus on this need in the past, and is aware of the substantial
work to be done. All current members, as well as our extended audience, should feel welcomed,
included, and recognized in our organization. We aim to be transparent in our future initiatives
and progress as we strive to create lasting support for broader audiences.
We recognize that it is not enough to only welcome and encourage underrepresented groups to
our organization, but also necessary to help facilitate pathways for interest and education for all
within the fields of natural history, museums, and collections. To do this, we must break down
barriers to entry and involvement within our Society and meetings, as well as within the spheres
of natural history, museums, and collections in general. Privileges and prejudices to be
acknowledged include, but are not limited to, race, color, ethnicity, nationality, religion,
socioeconomic status, veteran status, education, marital status, language, age, gender, gender
expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, mental or physical ability, genetic information,
learning differences, and neurodiversity.
Moving forward, we value the inclusion of new narratives from underrepresented voices in
natural history, museums, and other collecting institutions. We recognize that many natural
history museums originated in a western white colonial perspective and have discriminated
against indigenous peoples and historically excluded traditional knowledge. We support
decolonization efforts in natural history collections and museums by working with all
stakeholders to address this exploitative past.
SPNHC has formed a committee to organize and oversee the work to be done throughout the
Society relating to the matters of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA). We have
chosen these terms as the pillars of our work in the committee. Definitions of each have been
adapted from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM):
- Inclusion: An intentional, ongoing effort to ensure diverse individuals participate fully in all aspects of organizational work, including decision-making processes.
- Diversity: The ways in which people are different and the same at the individual and group levels.
- Equity: Fair and just treatment of all members of a community
- Accessibility: Giving equitable access to everyone along the continuum of human ability and experience
Upcoming plans within the SPNHC IDEA Committee include:
- Conducting an audit of the Society’s current demographics to better understand the diversity and representation present in the Society’s membership, and thus inform future initiatives.
- Reaching out to other allied societies and organizations related to natural history and collections to create a global community around these important topics. These conversations will allow us to discuss and learn from one another about diversity and inclusion in a broader sense.
- Creating accessible outreach and education materials around the ideas of diversity, decolonizing in the natural sciences, and museum collections.