Introduction to Natural History Collections: Fall 2025
Instructors: Drs. Erin Kuprewicz, Katrina Menard, and Sarah Taylor
Assisted by: Drs. Bernard Goffinet, Janine Caira, and Veronica Bueno
Location of lectures: TLS 181
Location of practical sessions: BPB Rooms 112 & 115 (EEB Biodiversity Research Collections, BRC)
Grading is on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis; participation in all four sessions is mandatory for a Satisfactory grade.
All applicable university policies are referenced at this url: http://provost.uconn.edu/syllabi-references/ and should be considered part of this syllabus.
Tuesday: September 9
6:00-6:15 pm Introduction to course (Taylor)
6:15-6:30 pm Class introductions (all students)
6:30-7:15 pm Importance of Natural History Collections (Goffinet)
7:15-8:00 pm History of the EEB Biodiversity Research Collections (BRC) (Caira)
8:00-9:15 pm In-depth tour and exploration of the collections, with facility procedures and specimen handling protocols (Kuprewicz, Menard, Taylor)
Thursday: September 11
6:00-6:50 pm Threats to Natural History Collections (Menard)
6:50-7:50 pm Organization of Collections (Group Exercise) (Kuprewicz, Menard, Taylor)
7:50-8:30 pm Class splits in half and participates in VERTEBRATE specimen preparation and labeling (Kuprewicz) or INVERTEBRATE specimen preparation and labeling (Menard)
8:30-9:15 pm Class halves switch preparation activities
Tuesday, September 16
6:00-6:30 pm Voucher and type specimens: What are they and why do they matter? (Menard)
6:30-6:50 pm Overview of collection databases (Kuprewicz)
6:50-7:30 pm Uses for specimen data (Assignment 1 – preparation required for Group Discussion)
7:30-8:20 pm Class splits in half and participates in ENDOPARASITE specimen preparation and labeling (Bueno) or PLANT specimen preparation (Taylor)
8:20-9:15pm Class halves switch preparation activities
Thursday, September 18
6:00-6:30 pm Permits, transactions, and breaking the law (Kuprewicz)
6:30-7:00 pm Societies and organizations; training; careers; resources (Taylor)
7:00-8:00 pm Collection policies (Assignment 2 – preparation required for Group Discussion) (Kuprewicz, Taylor, Menard, Goffinet, Caira)
8:00-8:30 pm Collecting and collections: ethical issues (Assignment 3 – preparation required for Group Discussion) (Taylor, Kuprewicz, Menard, Goffinet, Caira)
8:30-9:00 pm Stories from the field (Menard)
9:00-9:15 pm Course Evaluations