1. Dr. Patricia Mergen
Biology Department
Head of the Cyber-taxonomy and Biodiversity Information Unit
Royal Museum For Central Africa (RMCA)
Federal Scientific Esthablisment (FSE), public
Tervuren, Belgium
Important and unique Research Institution focusing on the past and present societies and natural environments of Africa, in particular Central Africa.
10 million zoological specimens,
250 thousand rock samples and minerals 180 thousand ethnographic objects,
60 thousand wood samples, (worlwide)
20 thousand maps,
8 thousand musical instruments
2 km archives, including Stanley Archives
1 central + 17 thematic libraries
Collections

2. Biodiversity Information Standards, TDWG
Global Biodiversity Information Facility, GBIF
Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities, CETAF
FP5 ENBI
FP6 EDIT, SYNTHESYS
FP7 SYNTHESYS II
EcontentPlus: Sterna, BHL-Europe, Mimo, … Europeana
Geographic Information Systems
Species Distribution modeling
DNA Barcoding
Digital imaging ….
Belgian Taxonomic Facilities (Be-TAF)

3. What can we offer ? What are we searching for ?
Domain specific scientific expertise
Content and technology provider, advisory organ on Data Standards
Training providers (Summer School, group and individual trainings in our institutions)
Outreach and Capacity Building (communication and education services)
Add an African Dimension to your projects
What can we offer ?
What are we searching for ?
Assess if we can become partner of existing or forming consortia:
Climate change (content and expertise provider)
Environment and health (content provider)
Natural resources (Biodiversity, taxonomic information)
Earth observation (GIS technology, maps, geo-referenced data)
Sustainable Development (content provider for modeling)