This event provided space for members that are Black in NHMs to introduce themselves on social media either directly through their accounts or indirectly by submitting video introductions. The online event was accompinied with a zoom event called “Allow us to reintroduce ourselves, our name is BlackInNHMs”. Board members of Black in Natural History Museums, indtorudced themselves and discussed the broader vision of our organization and the plan going forward.

This event looked at NHMs as libraries of life and highlighted the specimens, artifacts, and objects that have contributed to our basic understanding of life on earth. We also highlighted younger researchers (postdocs & graduate students) and showed the innovative science that is possible because of these invaluable specimens.

The list of scavenger hunt items were released, so participants could visit their local museum. On this day, people shared what they found at the musuem. Those unable to participate in our scavenger hunt, highlihgted some of their favorite spots, places, exhibits, artifacts, and more in their local  museum. 

This event revealed resources that are lacking to support Black folx in natural history museums. In order to understand money as an important resource, we will have a 2-hour session to discuss means to obtain funding. This session will consist of a 45-minute talk from NSF program officers (Herron, Marenda, Kearney, Fehlberg), and 45 - 60-minutes questions (panel style with the NSF program directors).

This event explored the career trajectories of Black curators. During the discussion we learned the various paths our panelists took to these positions. Panelists shared their perspectives on the importance of capacity building for collections, including strategies for broadening participation.

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