> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://openscholarship.gitbook.io/chosn/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://openscholarship.gitbook.io/chosn/working-groups/use-case-future-proofing-research.-unlocking-new-value-from-existing-collections.md).

# Use Case: Future-Proofing Research. Unlocking New Value from Existing Collections

Use case developed with contributions by Robert Cubey, Plant Records Officer at Plant Records – Biodiversity Data & Collections Care at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

Herbarium collections, some over three centuries old, are now being used in new types of research such as genetic analysis of plant responses to environmental change. Digitised herbarium collections support data sharing, facilitate future research, and ensure that genetic data remain useful beyond the original study ([Eckert et al., 2026](https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.70454)).

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Repositories protect and unlock the future value of collections, ensuring that past investments continue to generate new research and funding opportunities.
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## What the repository enabled

* Preservation and discoverability of historical specimens and associated data
* Ability to connect physical collections with digital metadata and datasets
* Access for researchers applying new scientific methods
* Data mobility - the plants have been collected globally, archives allow global access

## Research value

Collections are reused to answer contemporary research questions that were not anticipated at the time of collection, particularly in climate and genetic research.

## Institutional value

* Demonstrates long-term return on legacy collections
* Supports new funding opportunities by enabling novel research
* Reinforces the institution’s relevance in emerging scientific fields

## Why this matters

* Sustained repository services allow collections to generate ongoing research value over decades
* Avoids loss of potential value due to inaccessibility or data degradation

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