1. Collections 10 million zoological specimens, 250 thousand rock samples and minerals 180 thousand ethnographic objects, 60 thousand wood samples, (worlwide) 20 thousand maps, 8 thousand musical instruments 2 km archives, including Stanley Archives 1 central + 17 thematic libraries Important and unique Research Institution focusing on the past and present societies and natural environments of Africa, in particular Central Africa. Dr. Patricia Mergen Biology Department Head of the Cyber-taxonomy and Biodiversity Information Unit Royal Museum For Central Africa (RMCA) Federal Scientific Esthablisment (FSE), public Tervuren, Belgium www.africamuseum.be Patricia.Mergen@africamuseum.be

2. Biodiversity Information Standards, TDWG Global Biodiversity Information Facility, GBIF Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities, CETAF FP5 ENBI FP6 EDIT, SYNTHESYS FP7 SYNTHESYS II EcontentPlus: Sterna, BHL-Europe, Mimo, … Europeana Geographic Information Systems Species Distribution modeling DNA Barcoding Digital imaging …. Belgian Taxonomic Facilities (Be-TAF)

3. What can we offer ? • Domain specific scientific expertise • Content and technology provider, advisory organ on Data Standards • Training providers (Summer School, group and individual trainings in our institutions) • Outreach and Capacity Building (communication and education services) • Add an African Dimension to your projects What are we searching for ? • Assess if we can become partner of existing or forming consortia: • Climate change (content and expertise provider) • Environment and health (content provider) • Natural resources (Biodiversity, taxonomic information) • Earth observation (GIS technology, maps, geo-referenced data) • Sustainable Development (content provider for modeling)