Idaho State University IMNH hosts National Science Foundation workshop Nov. 30-Dec. 2; topic is virtual repositories

The U.S. National Science Foundation will host an international workshop "Virtual Repositories for a Global Archaeological Science" Nov. 30-Dec. 2 at the Idaho State University Idaho Museum of Natural History.

"The workshop examines the science of creating virtual museum repositories where entire museum and archaeological collections are put online so that research can be conducted by anyone from wherever they are located," said Herbert Maschner, director of the Idaho Museum of Natural History.

Maschner, Corey Schou, ISU director of the Informatics Research Institute (IRI), and Matt Betts, curator, Canadian Museum of Civilization, are organizing the workshop. The workshop will include participants from the fields of archaeology, museum studies, computer science and related fields.

Representatives from the Smithsonian Institution, the University of Alaska, University of Illinois, University of British Columbia, University of Arkansas, Arizona State University, and George Washington University, and participants from the National Park Service, various museums, and a number of Native American groups are expected to attend.

This workshop will construct a model for the virtualization of cultural materials. This event builds on the widespread success of the bones website already in progress at the museum, and highlights the important work the Idaho Museum Natural History, the ISU Informatics Research Institute and ISU have been doing in the fields of 3D imaging, database engineering and public science.

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