Our Mission:
Scholarship
- Living material for global biodiversity research through 1000’s of specimens exchanged studies of animals that depend on plants (e.g. see books by Wagner) analyses of evolutionary relationships and genome evolution
- Critical local and global resource for research focusing on biodiversity (1000s of specimens loaned and studied )
- Library of extinct species
- Basis for many scientific publications
Education
- 1800 General Education students learn about CT and global natural heritage
- Resource for EEB courses: Tours of the BRC are offered and led by TA or managers and Specimens are used in a variety of courses
- The BRC is central to EEB 5500, the course focusing on Natural History Collections
- Training opportunities for 10-15 students
- 4000 plants grown for Biology labs
- 1600 species used in 40 courses
- Resource for Art and Journalism courses
Outreach
- 50 tours annually (pre-K to seniors)
- Educator at annual CT Flower Show
- Reference collections for state of CT
- Only public database on New England plants
Facilities
EEB’s preserved collections were consolidated into a state-of-the-art facility completed as part of UCONN2000 in December 2001 and equipped with compactors through funding from the National Science Foundation (see report). The space consists of the storage area for dry specimens with an independent climate control system and a room for fluid-preserved specimens. The storage space is complemented by a central preparation area, a walk-in cold room and freezer, offices for each collection manager and an adjacent conference area, with a library and offices for visiting scientists. The University continues to be highly supportive of the facility and its activities, most recently providing significant upgrades to critical facility components (i.e., HVAC and fire suppression).
People
The collections are managed and curated by various members of the EEB department, which should be contacted with specific inquiries (office location acronyms below: BPB: Biology Physics Building; PBB: Pharmacy Biology Building; TLS: Torrey Life Science Building).
Collection Managers
Meghan Moriarty
BPB 603
857-205-4042
Living Plant Collection
Dr. Matt Opel
TLS GH1
860-486-4052
Living Plant Collection
Dr. Sarah Taylor
BPB 125
860-486-1889
Herbarium
Dr. Katrina Menard
BPB 126
860-486-4451
Invertebrate Collections
Dr. Erin Kuprewicz
BPB 127
860-486-8945
Vertebrate Collections
Directors and Curators
Dr. Janine Caira
Gant W322
860-486-4060
Director of vertebrate collections
Insects and Parasites
Dr. Bernard Goffinet
PBB 300
860-486-5290
Bryophytes and Lichens
Dr. Elizabeth Jockusch
PBB 305B
860-486-4452
Herpetofauna
Dr. Cynthia Jones
PBB 400
860-486-4150
Director of living plant collection
Greenhouses
Dr. Karolina Heyduk
Gant W 217
860-486-4056
Director of herbarium
Vascular plants and Fossil plants
Dr. Louise Lewis
PBB 200
860-486-6723
Algae
Dr. Margaret Rubega
PBB 500
860-486-4502
Birds
Dr. Eric Schultz
PBB 200B
860-486-4692
Director of vertebrate collections
Fish
Dr. Michael Willig
Bld. 4 Annex 162
860-486-1455
Mammals
Support
Since its inauguration the biodiversity research collection has continued to grow, specimens are being databased and curated properly to insure their longevity. The collection offers unique opportunities for undergraduates to acquire skills in the curation of natural history collections. Every year undergraduate and graduate student’s sign-up for our course on Natural History Collections and complement it with internships in the various collections.
You can help us promote enhance the scientific and academic value of the collection by contributing to our endowment, which will fund student internships (see below) providing them with a unique learning experience while further enhancing the quality of the nearly 1 million specimens we house.
It is easy to give!
If you have any questions, please call Nick Boston (860 486 2296) or Bernard Goffinet (director, 860 486 5290).