Call for Proposals: Our Planet, Our Collections
On November 14 and 15, 2022, the CCAHA will present a virtual two-day conference exploring the intersection of collections care and environmental science. How do collecting institutions preserve evidence of an ever-changing natural world? And how does a changing world and climate impact those preservation efforts?
Conference topics will address actions, responsibilities, and outcomes in the care of collections through a holistic lens, including documentation of the natural environment now and in the future, and the role cultural organizations have to play in advancing sustainability efforts. CCAHA’s aim is to convene experts in the field of conservation, collections care, environmental science and more, to offer perspectives on the imminent impact of their work on preservation practice.
CCAHA is seeking proposals from the community of sessions that highlight a project, initiative, or practice exemplifying the challenges and opportunities of documenting the natural world amidst a climate crisis. How has your institutional or professional approach to this work impacted the practice of preservation, conservation treatment, exhibit design, or documentation within a framework of sustainability? Presentation topics may include, but are not limited to:
- The importance of not depleting natural resources while caring for collections
- Measuring the impact of storage solutions on collections of the natural world
- Caring for documentation of the natural world in field notes, herbaria, maps, living matter, etc.
CCAHA’s goal for this virtual event is to create a space where many diverse voices can share their perspectives and experiences related to these topics. We encourage proposals from speakers that represent diverse backgrounds and of sessions that address diverse/non-traditional collections and approaches to their care.
These sessions will be 30 minutes each, including 20 minutes to present and 10 minutes of Q&A. All selected presenters will receive an honorarium payment for their participation and have access to technical support in advance of and during this virtual event.
Use the form below to submit a proposal. You will be asked to provide either a 300-world abstract or short 3-to-5-minute video outlining your proposed session. The deadline to submit is Tuesday, September 1.