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UK researchers use AI to create digital museum of 70 million specimens
Researchers in the United Kingdom are utilizing artificial intelligence and robotics to create a massive digital museum through the Distributed System of Scientific Collections (DiSSCo UK) project. The initiative aims to digitize approximately 70 million specimens, including animals, plants, fossils, and rocks, from roughly 100 institutions such as museums, botanical gardens, and universities.
By using AI to scan specimens and transcribe handwritten labels, the project expects to complete the digitization process in about 10 years—a task that would have taken centuries using manual methods. The digital resource will be accessible to both the public and researchers via computers and mobile devices.
Scientists intend to use this data to study historical environmental changes, such as the impact of the Industrial Revolution, and to better predict future climate change effects, species loss, and shifts in food supplies. Initial phases focus on insect and plant collections in Wales and Scotland, involving institutions like the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and National Museums Scotland.
Entities
Arts and Humanities Research Council · DiSSCo UK · Joanna Dunster · Natural History Museum · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · United Kingdom
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The project is known as the Distributed System of Scientific Collections, external (DiSSCo UK). www.bbc.co.uk
- [● 3 SOURCES] Researchers are using artificial intelligence and robotics to create a massive digital museum of natural history specimens. www.ziarulnational.md · www.nouvelles-du-monde.com · www.bbc.co.uk
- [● 2 SOURCES] The digital museum will help researchers model climate change impacts, biodiversity loss, and food supply variations. www.nouvelles-du-monde.com · www.bbc.co.uk
- [● 3 SOURCES] The digitization process, which would have taken centuries, is expected to be completed within a decade using AI and robotics. www.ziarulnational.md · www.nouvelles-du-monde.com · www.bbc.co.uk
- [● 2 SOURCES] Dr. Joanna Dunster, associate director of the Arts and Humanities Research Council, stated the goal is to make collections openly accessible to the public and researchers. www.ziarulnational.md · www.bbc.co.uk
- [● 3 SOURCES] The project aims to digitize approximately 70 million specimens, including animals, plants, fossils, and rocks. www.ziarulnational.md · www.nouvelles-du-monde.com · www.bbc.co.uk