Horniman’s Viscardi to chair Natural Sciences Collections Association

The Horniman Museum and Gardens’ Paolo Viscardi has become the new chair of the Natural Sciences Collections Association (NatSCA), a voluntary role leading the association’s work to promote and support natural science collections across the UK. His appointment was announced on Thursday 26 June at NatSCA’s AGM in Cardiff, during a major international natural sciences collections conference attended by Welsh Minister for Culture and Sport John Griffiths MA, and BBC broadcasters Dr Alice Roberts, Dr Rhys Jones and Ben Garrod. Paolo Viscardi says: ‘I’m looking forward to the opportunity to help shape NatSCA’s work, raising awareness of the value of natural science collections for research into globally important issues and in shaping the nation’s wider understanding and appreciation of the natural world.’  Paolo has been Deputy Keeper of Natural History at the Horniman since August 2007, and is responsible for the curation of the skeletal, geology and fossil collections. He has investigated mermaids; worked with fine art photographer Sean Dooley on the After Life exhibition at the Horniman; contributed to the book Jake’s Bones written by a 12-year-old bone-collector in Scotland, and was scientific adviser to the BBC TV series The Secrets Of Bones with scientist and presenter Ben Garrod.