Mentor(s): Steven Sullivan, Ph.D., and Susan Hoffman, Ph.D.

Foundational to the use of any scientific collection are both the systematic and physical organization of its specimens. It must promote simple navigation and access, ideally by reflecting modern phylogenetic systematization. However, following such theoretical structure can result in inefficient space use when families, such as those in class Mammalia, have extreme variation in size and morphology. At any given institution, there are constraints that must be accommodated, without compromising the long-term integrity of the collection. At the Hefner Museum of Natural History, the mammalogy collection was arranged to prioritize facile use for class and research, while minimizing size variation within cases. The entire storage system was incorporated into an exhibition, and some specimens were made visible, educating visitors about the value of study skins while enhancing specimen preservation. The successes and considered compromises exemplified by this project can inform future collections storage projects and ensure that the value of these scientific collections will grow in significance through use and rarity.

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