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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>AIBS wrote a good letter protesting this:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="https://www.aibs.org/position-statements/20160324_nsf_collections.html">https://www.aibs.org/position-statements/20160324_nsf_collections.html</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>There is also good information in the Nature article on the “hiatus” in funding. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="http://www.nature.com/news/biological-specimen-troves-threatened-by-funding-pause-1.19599">http://www.nature.com/news/biological-specimen-troves-threatened-by-funding-pause-1.19599</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Thank you!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Emily<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>___________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Emily B. Roberson, Ph.D.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Director<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="http://plantsocieties.cnps.org/index.php">Native Plant Conservation Campaign</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="mailto:emilyr@plantsocieties.org">emilyr@plantsocieties.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>415 531 4439<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> native-plants [mailto:native-plants-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Lindsey Riibe<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, April 01, 2016 12:05 PM<br><b>To:</b> native-plants@lists.plantconservation.org; Alien Plant Working Group; Restoration Working Group; Medicinal Plant Working Group<br><b>Subject:</b> [PCA] Article: NSF Suspends Funding Program for Biological Specimen Collections<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><h1 style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";letter-spacing:-.4pt;font-weight:normal'>sorry for cross-pollination, but wanted to get the word out.</span><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";letter-spacing:-.4pt;font-weight:normal'><o:p></o:p></span></h1><h1 style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:21.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";letter-spacing:-.4pt;font-weight:normal'>Biological specimen troves threatened by funding pause<o:p></o:p></span></h1></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.5pt'>Article in Nature (News & Comment) on the recent decision by the US National Science Foundation that cuts $3 - $5 million a year in grants (equivalent to roughly 0.06% of the agency’s $7.5-billion budget for fiscal year 2016) primarily used to maintain biological collections such as herbaria. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.5pt'>The program “could be reinstated, but potentially with a new focus”. Fortunately, NSF is asking for feedback on the program. "</span><span style='font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:#333333'>During this time, the program has been asked to evaluate its value to the research and education community. As part of this evaluation we welcome feedback from any stakeholders, including individuals, institutions, and professional societies."</span><span style='font-size:9.5pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.5pt'>Let them know how invaluable our biological collections are! Follow the link bellow to add your comments.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.5pt'><a href="https://dbinsfblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/16/csbr-fy17/" target="_blank">https://dbinsfblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/16/csbr-fy17/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.5pt'>Link to the online Nature News story:<br><a href="http://www.nature.com/news/biological-specimen-troves-threatened-by-funding-pause-1.19599" target="_blank">http://www.nature.com/news/biological-specimen-troves-threatened-by-funding-pause-1.19599</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>-- <o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Lindsey Riibe<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Conservation and Land Management Intern<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Bureau of Land Management<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Washington Office, DC<o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>