The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
AZ Biocollections and Biodiversity Informatics Center at ASU, Alameda Facility
AZ Biocollections and Biodiversity Informatics Center at ASU, Alameda Facility
Learn more about your impact
Supporting the Natural History Collections helps preserve biodiversity for future generations. The Collections house millions of specimens, including:
- Over 2 million insect specimens from the Southwest US and New World Tropics, especially beetles, moths, butterflies and weevils
- Over 15,000 fossil plants from western North America and Australia that are used for plant evolutionary research, teaching and public outreach
- One of the top ten largest lichen collections in the US, with over 125,000 specimens, 40,000 of which represent the Greater Sonoran Desert region
- Over 60,000 vertebrates primarily from the Southwestern US, including collections of lizards, fish, mammals and birds
- 140,000 shells from seas, freshwater lakes and streams, and on land, representing 5 of the 7 kinds of mollusks
- One of the most important vascular plant herbaria in the Southwest, with over 330,000 specimens documenting the geographic and ecological distribution of plants in the region
Collections inspire wonder and discovery and are managed to maximize engagement, research and conservation. Your gift supports caring for these invaluable resources.
Being involved and working at the Natural History Collections at ASU has changed my perspective on how I view and appreciate the biology around me, as well as how valuable having community is. The atmosphere in our collections is very uplifting, and everyone takes the time to know your name and support your endeavors. I have been given the opportunities to learn and advance many skills, and having the support from the team has made such a difference. I will always treasure the time I have spent working for the Collections and hope to continue being involved in this community for years to come!”
Impact of donor support
Your donations help us:
- Preserve specimens in the Natural History Collections
- Digitize collections to make them accessible to researchers worldwide
- Train students and facilitate public outreach initiatives
- Maintain and grow the collections
Your support ensures the Collections continue to advance science, education and conservation.
