this post was submitted on 22 Feb 2024
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2024-11-11

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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.

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[–] FigMcLargeHuge@sh.itjust.works 122 points 8 months ago (4 children)

I bet their football team doesn't have any budget issues...

[–] Lemonparty@lemm.ee 24 points 8 months ago

Their basketball coach that retired was the highest paid basketball coach in history. I am not 100% certain due to new contracts but I believe that includes NBA coaches. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

[–] turkalino@lemmy.yachts 17 points 8 months ago

*basketball

[–] blazeknave@lemmy.world 7 points 8 months ago

Or their rape defense team

[–] turkalino@lemmy.yachts 104 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Cannot afford, after the regents voted to give themselves $300k pay raises

[–] streetfestival@lemmy.ca 58 points 8 months ago

Defunding biodiversity science at a time like this...

[–] aniki@lemm.ee 15 points 8 months ago

This is capitalism end-game.

[–] shiftymccool@lemm.ee 14 points 8 months ago

Dear everyone,

It's not sports, so fuck it!

Sincerely,

99% of US universities

[–] cupcakezealot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 8 months ago

don't worry the dorms still have a bigger plant collection