Honam Region Biological Resources Center Hosts 'Council of Biological Specimen Collection Directors'

Published 05 Feb.2025 08:52(KST)

Updated 27 Jul.2025 23:08(KST)

Discussion on Sharing Institutional Holdings and Digitization

The National Honam Biological Resources Center, under the Ministry of Environment and led by Director Park Jinyoung, announced on the 5th that it held the 7th Council of Directors for Biological Specimen Repositories (hereinafter referred to as the Council) on the 4th, with participation from eight institutions responsible for storing and managing biological specimens.

The Council was established to promote the sharing of technology and information related to the storage of biological specimens in Korea and to activate work utilizing these specimens. Eight institutions participate, including the National Honam Biological Resources Center, National Science Museum, Korea National Arboretum, National Institute of Biological Resources, Nakdonggang National Institute of Biological Resources, National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, Seodaemun Museum of Natural History, and Ewha Womans University Natural History Museum.

Heads of biological specimen storage institutions are taking a commemorative photo after their meeting. Photo by National Honam Biological Resources Center

Since its first meeting in 2020, the Council has continuously discussed performance management and cooperation strategies regarding biological specimen storage operations. The National Honam Biological Resources Center has participated since the 5th Council in 2022, contributing to the collection of biological specimens from Korea’s islands and coastal areas and to the activation of specialized research.

The main agenda of the 7th Council included sharing the status of biological specimen holdings by institution and promoting workshops and seminars related to specimen storage operations. To this end, concrete cooperation measures were discussed in depth, considering the latest trends in biological specimen management, such as providing information on specimen data, promoting specimen donations, and establishing strategies for specimen digitization.

Director Park Jinyoung stated, “Through this Council, a foundation has been laid to strengthen the utilization of biological specimens held by each institution. I hope this will serve as an opportunity to further enhance mutual cooperation among national biological resource repositories.”