Entomological collections hold significant scientific potential, especially understudied taxa of historical collections from important biogeographical regions, such as bees in Portugal. The Science Museum of the University of Coimbra (MCUC) holds the largest historical collection of Portuguese bees, primarily because M.A. Diniz, one of the few Portuguese bee experts, was based in this institution during the 20^th century, and several historical collections are stored there from that period and before. Nevertheless, most of the records were unpublished and unrevised. In this work, we revised and databased (via GBIF) 13,374 Portuguese bee records (11,053 unpublished), covering 464 species, of which 11 are new to Portuguese fauna. All 9 type specimens from Portuguese species (1 holotype, 2 syntypes, 5 paratypes and 1 dismissed type) were reported and photographed. We also provide an update of the Anthophila checklist for continental Portugal, with three additional unreported species from other institutions (for a total of 14 new species) and removal or confirmation of exclusion of 19 previously reported species, producing a revised total for the Portuguese continental bee fauna of 736 species.

As is the case for all forms of cultural heritage, museum collections are under a serious threat of biodeterioration, with fungi playing a significant role in this phenomenon, compromising the preservation and dissemination of past knowledge, artifacts and traditions. As part of the ongoing efforts to study the fungal contaminations observed in the artifacts that compose the collection of the Science Museum of the University of Coimbra, non-invasive sampling of four objects present in the archive was conducted and 43 fungal isolates were retrieved. These isolates were subjected to a comprehensive analysis based on molecular and morphological characteristics and were identified as belonging to 15 different species. Of the 15 isolated species, 5 were selected for in vitro antifungal essential oil assays, based on their relative abundance and biodeteriorative potential. For these, essential oils of Cymbopogon citratus, Lavandula angustifolia, Thapsia gummifera, Mentha pulegium, Mentha suaveolens, Thapsia villosa, Thymus mastichina and Agastache foeniculum were obtained via hydrodistillation, in accordance with the European Pharmacopeia. Of the tested oils, most impacted fungal growth, with Cymbopogon citratus and Lavandula angustifolia being able to fully inhibit the growth of most fungi even at the lowest tested concentrations.

Tens of millions of images from biological collections have become available online in the last two decades. In parallel, there has been a dramatic increase in the capabilities of image analysis technologies, especially those involving machine learning and computer vision. Whilst image analysis has become mainstream in consumer applications, it is still only used on an artisanal basis in the biological collections community, largely because the image corpora are dispersed. Yet, there is massive untapped potential for novel applications and research if the images of collection objects could be made accessible as a single corpus. In this paper, we make the case for building infrastructure that could support image analysis of collection objects. We show that such an infrastructure is entirely feasible and well worth the investment.IntroductionOwing to their central role in cataloguing the world’s biodiversity, global biological collections likely hold samples of most known macro-biodiversity. As such, they are an irreplaceable asset for research of all kinds, including ecology, conservation, natural history and epidemiology \cite{Bradley_2014,Cook_2014,Davis_2019,Antonelli_2020}. They are also seen as an important and underused resource to address numerous questions in the context of biodiversity under global change \cite{Soltis_2017,Meineke_2018,Hussein_2022}. Thus ensuring access to, and integrating data from these collections is globally important for the future. Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity are fundamental to the 2030 Agenda of the \cite{secretariat_of_the_convention_on_biological_diversity_biodiversity_2016} and achieving its sustainable development goals is only realistic with the collections that underpin accurate naming and knowledge of biodiversity.To keep pace with the demand for access to collections, digital imaging of biological collections has progressed at pace (Fig. 1). As of September 2022, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) has more than 49 million preserved or fossil specimens with an image. For just the nearly 400 million specimens of plants held in collections globally \cite{thiers_worlds_2020}, there are almost 38 million (9%) occurrences with images on GBIF. This number is expected to grow substantially. For example, the digitisation of the Kew herbarium, which holds over 7 million specimens will add to already major digitization programs in Australia, China, Europe and the United States among others \cite{willis_science_2018,Nelson_2018,Borsch_2020,chinese_virtual_herbarium_299000_2021}.\ref{240550}\ref{205447}

Museum objects serve as powerful catalysts for research, learning, and advancement of human knowledge. This study selected six specimens and artefacts from the Zoology, Anthropology, Botany, Physics, Academic, and Mineralogy and Geology collections of the Science Museum of the University of Coimbra. By focusing on their identities and characteristics, a multidisciplinary narrative was developed, exploring their significance in the context of human interaction with nature, as well as the cultural, social, and historical realities they embody. Through an innovative educational communication approach, these six specimens were linked by common features: the hippopotamus skeleton alongside bone replicas carved from orange wood; natural fibres from a funerary mask used in Zombo (formerly Portuguese Congo); and the insignia of Arthur Exell, who joined the 1937 Angolan expedition led by Luís Carrisso, collecting Welwitschia mirabilis Hook.f. from the Namibe/Moçâmedes desert, a living fossil whose adaptive morphology was eventually examined with a field microscope, and a mineral with malleable properties used as a tool by a past civilization. Six specimens become protagonists in a narrative that bridges natural and cultural histories, underscoring the essential role of museums in education by offering dynamic real-world case studies to learning.

Esta investigação no Museu da Ciência da Universidade de Coimbra visa promover a biodiversidade para a sustentabilidade dos ecossistemas desenvolvendo ações educativas. Na exposição “Borbotânica” relacionam-se borboletas diurnas portuguesas (séculos XIX e XX) com modelos didáticos de flores e frutos (Brendel, século XIX). Ao percurso exploratório e formativo sobre borboletas e plantas, relações e biologia, segue-se a aplicação de conhecimentos num jogo de cartas e num jardim vivo com borboletas. Os inquéritos de avaliação aos participantes de 3 grupos etários (4-12 anos, 13-21 anos, e maiores de 21 anos), revelam satisfação, aquisição de conhecimentos, sugestões e vontade de criação de jardins de borboletas. Promovendo a participação intergeracional e uma cidadania ativa, sublinha-se a importância dos museus na educação não-formal, num projeto educativo bem-sucedido e facilmente replicável por cidadãos e instituições.