Scientific collections

Whether preserved in natural history museums, herbaria, field stations or laboratories, scientific collections offer invaluable repositories of knowledge that both shape and comprise our understanding of the planet's biodiversity. The vast array of specimens of organisms—both living and preserved—contained in these collections provide insights and connect researchers, institutions, and the public through a vibrant, extensive network.

For those interested in exploring the deep history of life, tracking the impacts of environmental change, or simply learning more about the natural world, the hundreds of millions of specimen records available through the GBIF network provide a gateway into the knowledge residing in scientific collections worldwide.