An overview of Natural History Collections, post-disaster recovery, and digitization progress at the Museu Nacional/UFRJ, Brazil

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Abstract Established in 1818, the National Museum [Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (MN)] is the oldest scientific institution in Brazil and one of the most significant repositories of Natural History Collections in the Global South. This article provides an updated overview of the current status of Natural History Collections in the MN (organized into five major areas: Entomology, Invertebrates, Vertebrates, Botany, and Palaeontology) in the aftermath of the devastating 2018 fire that affected drastically the MN palace, herein called Paço de São Cristovão. We highlight important post-disaster actions, such as the rescue of items within the Paço de São Cristovão, staff rearrangements, collection donations, and the publishing of the Collection Management Policy of Museu Nacional. In 2024, six years after the disaster, the MN opened new modular buildings with laboratories, working cabinets, and collection storage facilities, in a new campus (Campus de Pesquisa e Ensino do Museu Nacional/UFRJ). We also discuss recent advances in digitization efforts, which include photographs, particularly concerning historical and type specimens, implementation of an institutional collection management program, and the establishment of the Laboratory of Digital Collections, Museu Nacional (COLDIGI/MN), a hub for digital infrastructure development and planning. These initiatives reaffirm the commitment by MN to best practices in both physical and digital curation, aimed at enhancing research, preservation, and public access to its collections. The trajectory of the Museum demonstrates that resilience, combined with knowledge, skills, and shared dedication, can transform tragedy into a powerful opportunity for institutional strengthening and global scientific leadership.

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