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

自然史和系统分类学在康涅狄格大学的生物学史中占有突出地位。 因此，在过去的50年里，已经看到了哺乳动物，鸟类，鱼类，昆虫，蚂蚁客人，寄生虫，当代植物和植物化石的重要收藏品的发展。 这些收藏品继续增加，尽管缺乏适当的设施来存放它们。 这并不出乎意料，也许是由于与他们有关的活跃教师的机会主义性质，他们已经填补了任何可供他们使用的空间。 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。 一些收藏品位于公共场所，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拥挤，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：许多标本很难获得，策展效率低下且笨拙，对大多数标本的全面研究非常困难。 然而，在对这些系统学收藏的前所未有的支持中，该大学正在建造一个7，831平方英尺的最先进的设施来容纳这些收藏品。 尽管如此，还有更多的工作要做。 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，使其成为真正的最先进设施。 作为该项目的一部分，将雇用额外的临时策展工作人员协助搬迁，利用这一搬迁将收藏品整合到一个单一的职能单位，并开展通常不可能的策展活动。 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害虫管理计划。 自然史和系统分类学在康涅狄格大学的生物学史中占有突出地位。 因此，在过去的50年里，已经看到了哺乳动物，鸟类，鱼类，昆虫，蚂蚁客人，寄生虫，当代植物和植物化石的重要收藏品的发展。 这些收藏品继续增加，尽管缺乏适当的设施来存放它们。 这并不出乎意料，也许是由于与他们有关的活跃教师的机会主义性质，他们已经填补了任何可供他们使用的空间。 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。 一些收藏品位于公共场所，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拥挤，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：许多标本很难获得，策展效率低下且笨拙，对大多数标本的全面研究非常困难。 然而，在对这些系统学收藏的前所未有的支持中，该大学正在建造一个7，381平方英尺的最先进设施来容纳这些收藏品。 尽管如此，还有更多的工作要做。 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，使其成为真正的最先进设施。 作为该项目的一部分，将雇用额外的临时策展工作人员协助搬迁，利用这一搬迁将收藏品整合到一个单一的职能单位，并开展通常不可能的策展活动。 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害虫管理计划。 将在万维网上公布这些收藏品。

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.