Modern cabinetry for the ornithology collection at the natural history museum of LOS angeles county

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Foundation received a $1,317,921 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074), awarded on September 15, 2025, with completion targeted for August 31, 2028. The award funds the acquisition of modern cabinetry infrastructure for the museum's ornithology collection, pest mitigation through cryofumigation treatment, and taxonomic resequencing of specimens. The new cabinetry features improved accessibility with easily opened doors and properly fitted trays designed to facilitate use by researchers, staff, students, and volunteers while providing enhanced environmental and pest protection for long-term preservation.

In addition to infrastructure improvements, the award supports public engagement and workforce development activities including hands-on training opportunities for undergraduate students, volunteers, and staff; public outreach through museum festival exhibitions and updated visitor-facing exhibit cases; and virtual educational resources documenting the de-installation and re-installation process. These activities are designed to increase scientific literacy and enhance accessibility to the museum's biological research collections, which comprise over 35 million specimens and artifacts. The project aligns with the NSF Biological Sciences program's objectives to strengthen the nation's scientific enterprise and advance fundamental biological research by securing critical research infrastructure and facilitating broader access to irreplaceable biodiversity records.

Abstract

An award is made to the natural history museum of LOS angeles county to enable the purchase of new cabinets to house the ornithology specimens, ensure the collection is pest free with cryofumigation, and resequence the specimens in a modern taxonomic order. This award will ensure that critical infrastructure for biological research is secure and accessible, enabling its use now and in the future. In addition, this award will increase knowledge of natural history collections and scientific literacy through a combination of in-person training and activities and virtual engagement. The project will incorporate hands-on opportunities for undergraduate students, volunteers, and staff members. Additionally, the project will feature public engagement through tables showcasing research collections at museum festivals and events, an updated exhibit case visible to all museum visitors highlighting the importance of natural history collections, and virtual resources showcasing the process of DE- and RE-installation that will engage a broad audience. Natural history collections provide an irreplaceable record of current and historic biodiversity. They only become more valuable as technologies progress, facilitating ever increasing possibilities for research and discovery. Protecting and facilitating access to these resources are of utmost importance. The new cabinetry funded here would be a substantial improvement and help ensure that these specimens are preserved for future generations by providing the protection they need from the environment and pests. The new cabinetry with easily opened doors, and trays that fit properly in their cabinets will facilitate their use by staff, students, researchers, and volunteers. Staff time formerly spent mitigating the impacts of these old cabinets can be reallocated toward efforts to grow the collections or make them more accessible for a broad audience, for example, through digitization. Thus, this award will have cascading effects on the current and future use of the collections. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.