The Specify Collections Consortium (SCC) is a member-governed organization dedicated to the sustainability and advancement of the Specify software platform and advancing scientific research and innovation. The Board of Members (BoM) is the SCC’s primary governance body, representing the global community of institutions that rely on Specify for their biodiversity and Earth science data management. The Board of Members is composed of at least one BoM representative from each institutional member, and a few rotating seats occupied by collection level (Affiliate) members, as described in the SCC Membership Rights and Responsibilities (MRR).
Serving on the SCC BoM is an opportunity to steer the architectural foundation of global biodiversity infrastructure. Representatives on the Board ensure the continued success, financial stability, and technological evolution of the SCC with a blend of 1) strategic vision, 2) a commitment to the SCC’s Mission and Core Values, and 3) community building and advocacy.
An ideal SCC Board Member employs strategic and visionary thinking in their role, with a clear understanding of the evolving landscape of global biodiversity informatics. They anticipate future technological needs, such as the integration of artificial intelligence, new Darwin Core data standards, and Persistent Identifier (PID) systems, while maintaining a strong alignment with the open science principles championed by global networks like GBIF and DiSSCo.
Board members demonstrate a profound commitment to the Consortium’s sustainability and community support. Financial acumen and an understanding of the scientific landscape help them guide the SCC to ensure it continues to be a resilient, member-funded institution. Representatives carry a fiduciary responsibility to review budgets, evaluate membership and service pricing, and make recommendations to ensure the long-term financial health of the SCC. They understand and support equity as the foundation of the SCC.
Finally, board members are active advocates and community builders. They are effective communicators capable of articulating the value of Specify not just as a software tool, but as essential global cyberinfrastructure, helping to grow the membership base. They have a highly collaborative and inclusive mindset, maintaining an appreciation for the diverse needs of varied natural history disciplines across an international community. Board members actively engage in board meetings and working groups.
The BoM as a whole should contain a range of skills from representatives. Some board members may excel at consensus building, balancing their institutional requirements with the broader, collective needs of the entire Consortium. Others may bring deep domain expertise with practical experience navigating the daily curation workflows and digitization challenges within natural history or earth science collections. Still others may bring strong technical literacy in relational databases and direct experience administering, using, or migrating to Specify, informing infrastructural decisions.
Ultimately, this role is a critical opportunity to influence the direction of global biodiversity discovery. The ideal board member understands that robust software infrastructure and scientific research are mutually dependent, and is dedicated to ensuring Specify remains a sustainable, cutting-edge platform for generations to come.