The Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society (IOMNHAS) is to host a lecture by three experts this weekend.

The lecture will look at the digital collections held in the Manx National Heritage (MNH) archives, covering both heritage and the natural environment - and how they can help make knowledge of the island available to a worldwide audience.

On Saturday (February 26), MNH’s collections information manager Jude Dicken, historic environment record officer Andrew Johnson and curator of natural history Laura McCoy, will together give a presentation entitled ’Digital collections: Newspapers, Wildlife and the Historic Environment’ in the Manx Museum Lecture Theatre, on Kingswood Grove and Crellin’s Hill, Douglas, at 2.30pm.

The MNH experts said: ’Digital collections are powerful. They surprise, empower and engage new audiences.

’MNH will tell how the iMuseum Newspapers, the National Biodiversity Network Atlas Isle of Man and the Isle of Man Historic Environment Record websites collectively put a global audience in touch with the island’s social history, archaeology and natural history in a way that is dynamic and responsive to new knowledge and research.

’The talk and live demos will introduce the audience to these three Manx National Heritage websites which have variously gone live over the last decade.

’The team at Manx National Heritage (MNH) will explain the role of each website in raising the profile of what we do and care for at MNH, the research they inspire and how ’digital’ continues to transform what we understand about our history and environment.’

As with all IOMNHAS presentations, those attending are advised to arrive early to be sure of a seat and the talk will be followed by tea and biscuits.

Non-members attending the lecture will be invited to make a small donation.

The IOMNHAS Winter Programme will continue on Saturday, March 26, at the earlier time of 2pm with the society’s annual general meeting followed by Reih Bleeaney Vanannan 2022 award recipient Nigel Crowe giving a lecture entitled ’Some Interesting Documents Came to Light’ in which he will assess the implications of the cache of mid-18th century documents concerning the Milntown estate that he identified in 2014 among the Curwen Estate Office papers at Whitehaven Record Office in West Cumbria, the area where the prominent Christian family (owners of Milntown and headed until 1828 by MP and MHK John Christian Curwen) had their Ewanrigg and Workington Hall estates and coal mines in the 18th and early 19th centuries.

For further details about IOMNHAS and how to join, email [email protected], visit the website at www.manxantiquarians.com