ABOUT
The International Council of Museums Committee for Natural History (NATHIST) Annual Conference and General Meeting will be delivered by the South Australian Museum and the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium. Drawing on the expertise and leadership of these two renowned institutions, the conference will highlight the critical role of sustainability, conservation and research in responding to a changing world and shaping the future of natural history collections.
BOTANIC GARDENS AND STATE HERBARIUM
The Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium of South Australia comprises three beautiful public gardens - Adelaide Botanic Garden (and Botanic Park), Mount Lofty Botanic Garden and Wittunga Botanic Garden - as well as the State Herbarium, and the SA Seed Conservation Centre.
The gardens hold diverse living botanical collections, many of which have important conservation value. The popular destinations attract more than 2 million visitors each year, and has provided a range of cultural, educational, recreational and scientific facilities for almost 170 years.
The State Herbarium is a scientific hub of significant research and keeper of more than a million plant specimens, while the South Australian Seed Conservation Centre undertakes vital conservation of South Australia’s flora.
The Museum of Economic Botany, located in the heart of Adelaide Botanic Garden, is the last museum of its kind in the world, and home to a permanent collection of plant specimens, models and creations from across the globe which illustrate how plants have been - and still are – used by humans.
We are champions, protectors and storytellers, building on our collections, sites, expertise and partnerships to understand and share how plants shape each other’s futures. Our vision is a community that is inspired to contribute to the sustainability of our living world, and understands the vital role of plants, fungi, and algae in our ecosystems and in human life.
THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM
Established in 1856, the South Australian Museum is one of Australia’s leading natural and cultural history museums and the State’s primary collections-based research institution. Its collections are of national and international significance and support research across Australian Aboriginal and Pacific cultures, earth and life sciences, environmental change, deep time history and material culture. Through its collections and research, the Museum connects Australia’s unique stories and knowledge with global scientific and cultural conversations.
Today, the South Australian Museum is one of Australia’s most visited museums and is recognised for its leadership in Aboriginal heritage, scientific research and community engagement. Guided by its purpose to inspire wonder and curiosity about life on Earth, the Museum uses its world-class collections to share knowledge and deepen understanding of biodiversity, culture and our changing world.