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URBAN NATURE RESEARCH CENTER

by Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

The Urban Nature Research Center is combining the talents of different NHM scientists to form the only research center in the United States dedicated to urban biodiversity and further understanding the ecosystems of Los Angeles!

NHM Citizen science projects participating in the UNRC include BioSCAN, RASCals, SLIME, the Southern California Squirrel Survey, and the Los Angeles Spider Survey. We will continue our high-profile research and community outreach, while also connecting with new collaborators and citizen scientists, in an increased drive to understand and improve conditions for L.A. nature!

We are seeking funding for general support, supplies, work study students, and more. Look at the donation levels to the right to see how you can help!

It will take a lot of person power and supplies to ensure the success of the UNRC. Will you help us?

You can also submit nature observations to the UNRC curators! Download the iNaturalist app to submit nature observations, tag your photos on social media with #NatureinLA, or you can email your pics directly to [email protected].

In addition to helping us continue the largest urban biodiversity survey in the world, you will also receive cool perks for your donation! Take a look to the right to see premiums and benefits. Premiums are cumulative! You will receive everything available at your reward level and under.

 


FAQs

Q: What is citizen science?

A: Citizen science is scientists working with the public to answer real world questions. Anyone can contribute to scientific research! In this particular instance, UNRC scientists can't access all of the land in Los Angeles - it's heavily populated with industry, businesses and residential areas. Citizen scientists can provide nature observations from their backyards and private property that our team otherwise couldn't get to, helping our scientists answer the question "What plants and animals have made their home in L.A.?". It is an important question that, until now, has never been so thoroughly investigated. Learn more at nhm.org/nature and get started using the iNaturalist app here.

Q: When will I receive the premium (i.e. cool gift or experience) for my donation?

A: The deliveries of experience based premiums like trips or BioBlitzes are subject to change and require flexibility due to weather, availability of UNRC staff, etc. Don’t worry, we’ll be corresponding with you about UNRC related news, programming, and to set up delivery of your premium (and to generally check in with you because you’re great). The webpage honor roll and photography prints will be delivered within a few weeks of your donation.

Disclaimer: Vertebrates and terrestrial gastropods associated with UNRC projects are photographed only. Insects and spiders collected for UNRC related research are preserved in ethanol and accessioned into the Entomology collection.


 

The UNRC would like to thank the following supporters for their contributions:

Cynthia Abrams

Joann & Stan Benson

Sandra Cutuli

Heather de Roos

Peter & Elizabeth Haaker

Ursula Heise

Rosalind Helfand

Chris Holabird

Richard Itomura

Tom Jacobson

Cydney & Kenneth Kirschbaum

Susan Kramer

Keenan McCardle & Drew Thomas

Diane McClure

Katie McKissick

Caroline & Franklin Moser

Mumsey & Allan Nemiroff

Sue Petteway

Tom & Meredith Reynolds

Guy Salisbury

In memory of Dr. Patricia Bates Simun and Mr. Richard V. Simun

April de Stefano

Erin Suyehara

Lana Terry

Marianne Tornatore

Jim & Mitzi Walters

Alvaro Vasquez

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$52,783 RAISED

$120,000 GOAL

This Appeal 39 44%
has ended. Believers Funded
This appeal has ended.

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0
Believers

Aw. Thank you. Five bucks helps support the general operations of the UNRC - you can feel really good about that!

NATURE LOVER

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Believers

Thank you! $25 can help cover travel expenses for researchers. You get a shout out on our UNRC honor roll web page!

Limited Rewards: 92 of 100 remaining

SUPPORTER

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8
Believers

Nice! You're supporting 5 hours of UNRC work study student lab work. We'll mail you a beautiful, hi-res print of an insect photograph by BioSCAN photographer Kelsey Bailey.

Limited Rewards: 42 of 50 remaining

SERIOUS ABOUT SCIENCE

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Believers

WOW! Thank you! Your gift can cover the cost of a Malaise trap, used for capturing insects. For your generous donation, you will receive an invitation to a silly, science themed cocktail reception, for donors only! What will it be? Stay tuned for an event announcement!

Limited Rewards: 13 of 20 remaining

SCIENCE SOIREE!

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Believers

How generous! Your donation can cover the cost of a drum of ethanol, used to preserve specimens. To show our thanks, you and up to 5 guests can choose from a behind-the-scenes tour of the Entomology (insects and spiders), Malacology (mollusks), or Herpetology (reptiles and amphibians) collections at NHM!

Limited Rewards: 7 of 10 remaining

ENTOMOLOGY ENTHUSIAST

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3
Believers

Thanks! Your gift can cover the cost of a weather station to monitor local temperature, wind and rainfall. You and a guest can have lunch with the UNRC scientist of your choice. Plus, you can book a private, behind-the-scenes tour at NHM or the La Brea Tar Pits for up to 10 people!

Limited Rewards: 2 of 5 remaining

BRILLIANT BIOLOGIST

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Believers

You're too kind! Your gift can fund 2 weeks of specimen sorting by UNRC entomologists. You are invited to go on a collection trip to scout out lizards, snakes, and frogs in Malibu Creek with Curator of Herpetology, Greg Pauly, Ph.D.

Limited Rewards: 3 of 3 remaining

LEAPING LIZARDS

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Believers

Wow, thank you! Your gift can support a full month of specimen sorting by UNRC entomologists. Take an exclusive visit to the NHM Invertebrate Paleontology collections facility (filled with thousands of fossils that pre-date the dinosaurs!) with Curator of Malacology and Invertebrate Paleontology and head of the SLIME Citizen Science project, Jann Vendetti, Ph.D.

Limited Rewards: 2 of 2 remaining

SLIME TIME

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Believers

You're the best! Your contribution can buy a high quality microscope for sorting samples of insects. You have the opportunity to have a new species of fly discovered by UNRC scientists named in your honor with certificate and images (subject to availability). You may also host the UNRC team for a 2 hour BioBlitz at your home!

Limited Rewards: 3 of 3 remaining

DEDICATED DONOR

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1
Believer

You have gone above and beyond to help us out! Your gift can underwrite operational costs of the UNRC and provides funding for research excursions in the Los Angeles area. We'll honor you with a cameo appearance on our new online program, The Curiosity Show, hosted by Chris Thacker, Ph.D., Curator of Ichthyology at NHM! You will also be inducted into the NHM Director's Roundtable. Thank you!

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UNRC FOUNDING FUNDER

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