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At UC Santa Barbara’s Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration, we are proud to steward over half a million specimens in our collections, some dating back to the 1870s. These natural history libraries, known as the UCSB Natural History Collections, preserve organisms and their associated information, offering a valuable resource for understanding our planet's biodiversity. As custodians of this invaluable legacy, we are committed to preserving the priceless records of the birds, plants, insects, and countless other organisms that inhabit our fragile California Central Coast.
Dr. Shirley Tucker will match your donation!
Your support is vital in ensuring the continued preservation of our collections and our students' ongoing research efforts. By contributing to our mission, you help to provide researchers with a glimpse into our past, enabling them to study the effects of climate change, invasive species, and human activities on the environment. By giving now, you will also double your impact! Dr. Shirley Tucker has generously offered a 1:1 matching challenge to support our collections. Every dollar you donate will be matched, doubling the value of your gift.
Moreover, your generosity will directly support our students as they participate in hands-on research experiences. Students have the opportunity to join field trips at our UC field stations, collect specimens, and contribute to groundbreaking discoveries. By working alongside our experienced researchers, they gain valuable skills and inspiration for their future scientific pursuits.
Research in museum sciences and growing our collections is an essential part of the Cheadle Center’s work. By studying current animal distributions, discovering new species, and analyzing historical specimens, we gain a deeper understanding of how climate change and other factors are impacting biodiversity. Your support will enable us to continue this vital research, contribute to informed conservation strategies, and teach the next generation of environmental stewards.
Provide two hours of student monitoring & curatorial assistance (cleaning, freezing, digitizing, specimen preparation).
Provide supplies for curating specimens and controlling pests in the collections (sticky traps, archival paper, thermometers)!
Fund the hiring of contract experts to identify specimens, archive findings, and support online data assets.
Fund one student's field experience! Funding will provide accommodations, travel, curation, sampling, and preparations for students to integrate into a research team. Students will collect insects, plants, algae, reptiles, amphibians, and other organisms. The goal is to inspire students to go to graduate school and build confidence in presenting research. A life-changing experience!
Fund five students' field experiences! Funding will provide accommodations, travel, curation, sampling, and preparations for students to integrate into a research team. Students will collect insects, plants, algae, reptiles, amphibians, and other organisms. The goal is to inspire students to go to graduate school and build confidence in presenting research. A life-changing experience!