About Us
Purpose
The purpose of the Rutgers Zoological Collections is to support hands-on education, advance scientific research, and promote engagement with biodiversity through curated zoological specimens and teaching collections.
We are committed to:
- Enhancing experiential learning in ecology, evolution, and zoology
- Building a collaborative, student-involved collections program
- Supporting undergraduate teaching and faculty research
- Expanding access to preserved specimens and educational resources
- Fostering public understanding of biodiversity and natural history
What We Do
The Rutgers Zoological Collections is a teaching and research resource within the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources at Rutgers University. We provide preserved specimens, including vertebrates, invertebrates, birds, eggs, and other teaching materials used in instruction and outreach.
Courses Supported
Our collections are integrated into undergraduate courses such as:
- Invertebrate Zoology
- Vertebrate Zoology
- Ornithology
- Principles of Applied Ecology
- Principles of Evolution
Community Engagement
We support learning beyond the classroom through:
- Rutgers Day and outreach events
- Guided tours for students, visitors, and prospective students
- Developing experiential learning opportunities in regional museums
- Student-led collection expansion and curation projects
Since Spring 2022, students and staff have collaboratively worked to expand, organize, and improve the collections to better serve teaching, research, and outreach across Rutgers University.