Duke University's decision to close major plant collection sparks outrage

Duke University has announced the closure of its herbarium, a significant blow to biodiversity research.

Carl Zimmer reports for The New York Times.

In short:

• Duke University plans to shut down its herbarium, home to more than 825,000 plant, fungi, and algae specimens, due to financial constraints.
• The scientific community, including Erika Edwards from Yale Herbarium, has expressed shock and concern over the potential loss of this vital resource.
• Despite efforts to relocate the collection, no suitable home has been found, raising fears of the collection being forgotten or lost.

Key quote:

“This is such a devastating blow for biodiversity science.”

— Erika Edwards, curator of the Yale Herbarium

Why this matters:

The closure of Duke's herbarium not only impacts scientific research but also poses a significant threat to our understanding of environmental changes and biodiversity. This decision reflects broader challenges in funding and prioritizing scientific resources, crucial for informed health and environmental policies.

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