High definition digital microscope for accelerating Québec entomological research

我们需要一台高清晰度数字显微镜，用于详细的形态研究和昆虫标本图像的出版。这种设备对于成功启动我们新的研究方案至关重要。首先，它将对与多重条形码昆虫相关的标本进行分类，使我们能够研究跨越时间和空间的形态、分类和遗传多样性。其次，它将使我们能够适当地记录用于系统基因组学和博物馆学研究的凭证材料，为物种描述和识别检索表创建图像，并出版作为全球可访问的参考标本的网络标本，从而使藏品获取民主化。第三，它将深化魁北克昆虫学研究收藏品之间刚刚起步的合作：一个多机构项目将对该省博物馆的模式标本进行数字成像。启动团队中年轻研究人员和成熟研究人员之间的合作的机会是及时的，将改善魁北克昆虫收藏之间的协调和合作。此外，目前的全球大流行暴露了许多自然历史博物馆岌岌可危的存在，往往导致研究显著放缓，甚至停止研究，因为博物馆准入和发放标本借阅被停止。提供类型和其他参考标本的数字图像将有助于在中断期间维持研究活动。仅在第一年，就有至少38名HQP将使用显微镜系统。他们将获得新的博物馆学技术以及自然历史标本和数据管理的最佳做法方面的培训。HQP将进行的研究还将集中在昆虫发现、编目和多样化方面，这对农业行业(即虫害和生物防治制剂)、环境咨询公司和监管机构来说是非常重要的。这些技能和知识在许多政府、非政府和大学研究机构中也受到高度重视，并将帮助HQP在各自领域获得强大的地位。他说，所要求的显微镜填补了现有设备无法以其他方式解决的关键需求。它通常存放在蒙特利尔大学生物多样性中心的Favret实验室(时间大约2/3)，蒙特利尔昆虫馆和Ouellet-Robert收藏品共享空间，两个机构的收藏品管理人员可以确保方便获取。其余时间(~1/3)，显微镜将存放在麦吉尔大学莱曼昆虫学博物馆的吉隆实验室或其他地方，以进行明确的合作项目。显微镜系统将允许在昆虫学、生物多样性、生态学、进化生物学、基因组学和分类学领域由有成就的研究人员领导的新努力。这不仅将使昆虫收集数据变得可用，还将促进魁北克昆虫学收集之间日益增长的合作努力。

We are requesting a high-definition digital microscope for detailed morphological study and publication of insect specimen images. This equipment is critical to the successful launch of our nascent research programmes. First, it will catalog the specimens associated with multiplex barcoded insects, allowing us to study morphological, taxonomic, and genetic diversity across time and space. Second, it will allow us to properly document voucher material used in phylogenomic and museomic studies, create imagery for species descriptions and identification keys, and publish cyberspecimens that serve as globally-accessible reference specimens, thereby democratizing collections access. Third, it will deepen the budding collaboration between Québec's entomology research collections: a multi-institution project will digitally image the type specimens in the province's museums. The opportunity to initiate collaboration between the young and established researchers on the team is timely and will improve coordination and cooperation between Québec's insect collections. Additionally, the current global pandemic has exposed the precarious existence of many natural history museums, often resulting in a significant slow-down and even stoppage of research as museum access and the issuing of specimen loans are halted. The availability of digital imagery of type and other reference specimens would help maintain research activity during disruptions.      At least 38 HQP will use the microscope system in the first year alone. They will acquire training in new museological techniques and the best practices for natural history specimen and data curation. Research to be conducted by HQP will also focus on insect discovery, cataloguing, and diversification, of great interest to the agricultural industry (i.e. insect pests and biological control agents), environmental consulting firms, and regulatory agencies. These skills and knowledge are also highly valued in many governmental, non-governmental, and university research settings and will help HQP attain strong positions in their field.      The requested microscope fills a critical need not otherwise addressed with equipment currently available. It will normally reside at the Favret lab at the Université de Montréal Biodiversity Centre (~2/3 time), where the Montreal Insectarium and Ouellet-Robert Collections share space and where collection managers from both institutions can ensure ease of access. The rest of the time (~1/3), the microscope will reside at the Gillung lab at McGill University's Lyman Entomological Museum or elsewhere for defined collaborative projects. The microscope system will permit new endeavours led by accomplished researchers in the fields of entomology, biodiversity, ecology, evolutionary biology, genomics and taxonomy. It will not only render insect collection data accessible, but it will also catalyze a growing collaborative effort between the entomological collections in Québec.