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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

Introduction of an Integrated Pathology Image Management, Artificial Intelligence, and Reporting System

Introduction of an Integrated Pathology Image Management, Artificial Intelligence, and Reporting System

Published on: July 11, 2025

Computerizing natural history collections.

Mary E Sunderland¹

¹University of California, Office for History of Science and Technology, Berkeley, CA 94720-2350, USA. Mary.Sunderland@berkeley.edu

|May 14, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Computers have transformed life sciences research, but how scientists use them remains understudied. This research examines the impact of computerization on scientific practice at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology (MVZ).

Keywords:

ASM American Society of Mammalogists GRP Grinnell Resurvey Project MVZ Museum of Vertebrate Zoology NSF National Science Foundation SELGEM SELf-Generated Master TAXIR TAXonomic Information Retrieval

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Area of Science:

Life Sciences
Biology
Scientific Research

Background:

Computers are integral to modern life sciences, driving significant practical and conceptual shifts.
The specific ways scientists utilize computers in research are not well-documented.
The transformative impact of computers in biology is widely accepted but rarely scrutinized.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how the integration of computers into research programs has shaped scientific practice.
To explore the under-examined question of computerization's influence on biological research.

Main Methods:

Case study approach focusing on the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology (MVZ) at the University of California, Berkeley.
Analysis of long-term research programs to trace the computerization of data.
Historical examination of the adoption and use of computing technologies in a specific scientific institution.

Main Results:

The study provides a detailed examination of computer use within a long-term biological research context.
It highlights the practical and conceptual changes brought about by computerization at the MVZ.
The research offers insights into the evolution of scientific workflows with the introduction of computers.

Conclusions:

Understanding the nuances of computer use is crucial for appreciating the full impact of technology on scientific discovery.
The MVZ case study serves as a model for investigating computerization in other long-term research settings.
Further research is needed to fully comprehend the revolution computers brought to the life sciences.