Taipei stages 1st ICOM NATHIST conference

2015/10/22

The conference of the International Council of Museums Committee for Museums and Collections of Natural History kicked off for the first time Oct. 20 in Taipei City, bringing together experts from more than 10 countries and territories to study key challenges facing such facilities in the 21st century.

Opened by Deputy Minister of Culture Chen Yung-feng, the five-day event will assist Taiwan boost its presence in the organization and secure more opportunities for participation in international conservation projects.

“The timing of the ICOM NATHIST conference is especially opportune following the promulgation of the nation’s Museum Act in July,” Chen said. “We expect it to also help bring our facilities more in line with their global counterparts.”

Echoing Chen’s remarks, ICOM NATHIST President Eric Dorfman said Taiwan’s hosting of the event underscores his organization’s growing attention to the region, adding that he looks forward to working closely with the country’s public and private sector representatives going forward.

Staged at National Taiwan Museum, the event is themed Natural History Museums: Building Our Future. It features keynote speeches, paper presentations, workshops and a pre-conference Wildlife Trafficking Working Group meeting. Topics discussed during these sessions include building audiences, capacity and institutional tie-ups.

Following the conference, participants will tour the NTM, New Taipei City’s Gold Museum and Shihsanhang Museum of Archaeology, as well as Taipei Zoo.

Established in 1994, ICOM NATHIST is dedicated to conserving biological diversity in museums collections and the natural environment. Other goals are promoting scientific study of the world’s natural heritage and enhancing public education on related subjects.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=238066&ctNode=2194&mp=9)