Revealing hidden figures within natural history collections by empowering students with data sleuthing skills

Abstract Natural history collections (NHCs) preserve critical information about biodiversity, including specimen records, taxonomic classifications, and collection locations. However, attributing contributions to specific individuals remains a challenge due to inconsistencies in name formatting, name duplication, and the absence of standardized identifiers. These limitations hinder clear attribution and perpetuate inequities in crediting those who have collected and described specimens. Additionally, biases can influence whose contributions are recognized within biodiversity databases. To address these challenges, freely available tools such as ORCID, Bionomia, and Wikidata provide mechanisms to link individual contributions to biodiversity data. These platforms allow for the enhancement and correction of historical and contemporary records, ensuring more equitable recognition of contributors. The Scaffolded Inquiry Experience (SIE) presented here introduces students to the concept of “hidden figures” in science, emphasizing the importance of attribution within the context of NHCs. Through interdisciplinary and open‐source tools such as Bionomia and Wikidata, students engage with collections data, learn about the contributions of historically marginalized individuals in science, and document their involvement in biodiversity research. The SIE consists of four structured modules designed as a progressive learning experience over the course of a semester but can also be implemented as standalone units. They can also be used as a traditional Course‐based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) or integrated into other CUREs.