University officials say they cannot afford to maintain one of the largest herbariums in the United States. Researchers are urging Duke to reconsider.

University officials say they cannot afford to maintain one of the largest herbariums in the United States. Researchers are urging Duke to reconsider.

Duke University has decided to close its herbarium, a collection of 825,000 specimens of plants, fungi and algae that was established more than a century ago. The collection, one of the largest and most diverse in the country, has helped scientists map the diversity of plant life and chronicle the impact of humans on the environment.

The university’s decision has left researchers reeling. “This is such a devastating blow for biodiversity science,” said Erika Edwards, the curator of the Yale Herbarium. “The entire community is simultaneously shocked and outraged.”

Scientific societies have also protested the move. “Duke’s decision to forgo responsibility of their herbarium specimens sets a terrible precedent,” the Natural Science Collections Alliance wrote in a letter to the university last Friday.

The alliance, along with six other scientific societies, endorsed a petition asking Duke to reconsider closing the herbarium. As of Wednesday, it had gained over 11,000 signatures.

Non-paywall link

  • @[email protected]
    -10•9 months ago

    That’s like saying “they have commitments to a cult, but they’re good at science.” I don’t think non-secular institutions should have accreditation. Period.

    • @lyam23
      3•9 months ago

      I sense you might have some unresolved anger issues…

      • @xkforce
        6•9 months ago

        In a country increasingly governed by religious ideals that strip the rights of women and minorities, it is harder and harder not to hate religion.

        • kora
          3•9 months ago

          Agreed. I’m a Socialist Bi/Pan Transwoman and a “Christian” for lack of less tinged and equivalently brief word.

          I choose to look at these types of things as opportunities to praise good opinions.

          Whenever the collapse happens, assuming there are still people around, we’ll still have to live with people after the fact. Accepting the inevitability of “religious thoughts” and helping to mold and shape those ideas is better than failing to remove them entirely.

          Also, its a healthier mindset in general, for me at least.

          • @xkforce
            2•9 months ago

            I would be fine with tolerating religion’s existence if it remained a personal belief that was not forced upon others. But the moment it is, that means war.

            • kora
              3•9 months ago

              I totally agree. I personally just try to be a part of influencing the… culture? Of religion from a less antagonistic or opposing position. History has proven, piss off a country and religion may be used to retaliate, piss off a religion and countries will retaliate. Understanding people for what we all are in essence is something that has worked in my life on the micro scale, and despite having little to show for my efforts so far, I think its more than nothing…

          • @[email protected]
            -2•9 months ago

            I accept the existence of religion by virtue of the fact that humans are half a chromosome away from chimpanzees. I’m not happy about it, though.