A New Combined Collection Facility for the University of Connecticut Systematic Research Collections

自然史和系统学在康涅狄格大学的生物史上占有重要地位。因此，在过去的50年里，哺乳动物、鸟类、鱼类、昆虫、蚂蚁、寄生虫、当代植物和植物化石的大量收藏都得到了发展。这些藏品继续增长，尽管缺乏适当的设施来存放它们。这并不出人意料，或许是因为与他们相关的活跃教员的机会主义性质，他们已经来填补任何可用的空间。因此，这些标本目前分布在康涅狄格大学校园的五个不同地点。一些藏品位于公共空间，因此安全也是一个问题。即使是位于更容易进入的空间的收藏品也是如此狭窄，以至于不再可能适当地纳入归还的贷款。显然，这种情况并不理想：这些标本中的许多很难获得，管理效率低且笨拙，对大多数标本的全面研究非常困难。然而，在史无前例的对这些系统学藏品的支持中，该大学正在建造一个7831平方英尺的最先进的设施来存放这些藏品。尽管如此，仍有更多工作要做。该项目将实施向新设施的搬迁，并为新设施配备必要的计算机、显微镜等和用品，使其能够发挥真正最先进的设施的作用。作为该项目的一部分，将雇用更多的临时策展人员协助搬迁，利用这一举措将藏品合并为一个单一的职能单位，并开展通常不可能进行的策展活动。此外，该项目将支持在将标本转移到新设施之前实施积极的虫害管理计划。这些藏品将建立在万维网上的存在。自然历史和系统学在康涅狄格大学的生物史上占有突出地位。因此，在过去的50年里，哺乳动物、鸟类、鱼类、昆虫、蚂蚁、寄生虫、当代植物和植物化石的大量收藏都得到了发展。这些藏品继续增长，尽管缺乏适当的设施来存放它们。这并不出人意料，或许是因为与他们相关的活跃教员的机会主义性质，他们已经来填补任何可用的空间。因此，这些标本目前分布在康涅狄格大学校园的五个不同地点。一些藏品位于公共空间，因此安全也是一个问题。即使是位于更容易进入的空间的收藏品也是如此狭窄，以至于不再可能适当地纳入归还的贷款。显然，这种情况并不理想：这些标本中的许多很难获得，管理效率低且笨拙，对大多数标本的全面研究非常困难。然而，在史无前例的对这些系统学藏品的支持中，该大学正在建造一个7381平方英尺的最先进的设施来存放这些藏品。尽管如此，仍有更多工作要做。该项目将实施向新设施的搬迁，并为新设施配备必要的计算机、显微镜等和用品，使其能够发挥真正最先进的设施的作用。作为该项目的一部分，将雇用更多的临时策展人员协助搬迁，利用这一举措将藏品合并为一个单一的职能单位，并开展通常不可能进行的策展活动。此外，该项目将支持在将标本转移到新设施之前实施积极的虫害管理计划。这些藏品的万维网存在将被建立。

Natural History and Systematics have figured prominently in the history of biology at the University of Connecticut. As a consequence, the last 50 years have seen the development of significant collections of mammals, birds, fishes, insects, ant guests, parasites, contemporary plants, and fossil plants. These collections have continued to grow, despite the lack of an appropriate facility in which to house them. Not unexpectedly, and perhaps as a credit to the opportunistic nature of the active faculty associated with them, they have come to fill whatever space was available for them. Thus, these specimens are presently distributed across the University of Connecticut campus in five different locations. Several of the collections are located in public space and thus security is also an issue. Even the collections located in more accessible space are so cramped that it is no longer possible to properly incorporate returned loans. Clearly this situation is less than ideal: many of these specimens are difficult to access, curation is inefficient and awkward, comprehensive study of specimens in most is very difficult. However, in an unprecedented display of support for these systematics collections, the University is in the process of constructing, a 7,831 ft2 state-of-the-art facility to house the collections. In spite of all this, there is more to be done. This project will implement the move to the new facility as well as equip the new facility with the necessary computers, microscopes, etc. and supplies to allow it to function as a truly state-of-the-art facility. As part of this project additional temporary curatorial staff will be hired to assist with the move, take advantage of this move to integrate the collections into a single functional unit, as well as to carry out curatorial activities not routinely possible. In addition, the project will support the implementation of an aggressive pest management program prior to specimen transfer to the new facility. World Wide Web presence for the collections will be established.Natural History and Systematics have figured prominently in the history of biology at the University of Connecticut. As a consequence, the last 50 years have seen the development of significant collections of mammals, birds, fishes, insects, ant guests, parasites, contemporary plants, and fossil plants. These collections have continued to grow, despite the lack of an appropriate facility in which to house them. Not unexpectedly, and perhaps as a credit to the opportunistic nature of the active faculty associated with them, they have come to fill whatever space was available for them. Thus, these specimens are presently distributed across the University of Connecticut campus in five different locations. Several of the collections are located in public space and thus security is also an issue. Even the collections located in more accessible space are so cramped that it is no longer possible to properly incorporate returned loans. Clearly this situation is less than ideal: many of these specimens are difficult to access, curation is inefficient and awkward, comprehensive study of specimens in most is very difficult. However, in an unprecedented display of support for these systematics collections, the University is in the process of constructing, a 7,381 ft2 state-of-the-art facility to house the collections. In spite of all this, there is more to be done. This project will implement the move to the new facility as well as equip the new facility with the necessary computers, microscopes, etc. and supplies to allow it to function as a truly state-of-the-art facility. As part of this project additional temporary curatorial staff will be hired to assist with the move, take advantage of this move to integrate the collections into a single functional unit, as well as to carry out curatorial activities not routinely possible. In addition, the project will support the implementation of an aggressive pest management program prior to specimen transfer to the new facility. World Wide Web presence for the collections will be established.