From understanding the genes underlying individual traits to reconstructing the history and health of ecosystems, natural history collections contribute new knowledge across the life sciences.
Students and staff of the CUMV use collections to learn about the natural world. Collections allow for comparative studies that deepen our understanding of patterns in nature. These across species comparisons inspire experiments that further inform our understanding of the process generating patterns in the natural world. Supporting discovery initiatives at the CUMV allows students and researchers to continue innovative research, building collections, and fostering curiosity in organismal biology. Projects at the CUMV are diverse and offer insights that span individual genes, traits, populations, and species that can only be made with collections. Making these discoveries is exceptionally rewarding for students. They learn how to ask questions, how to design projects, gather data, summarize findings, and present their discoveries to broader audiences. You support continues the creative process of discovery and fosters curiosity in organismal biology.