Collections

For more than 140 years, KU scientists and students have collected and studied life on Earth. We now care for more than 8 million specimens of plants and animals — prehistoric to living species, microscopic to colossal — gathered from every continent and ocean, as well as 1.2 million archeological artifacts that document the past cultures of the Great Plains. Our collections include DNA samples, sound recordings, images, tissues, skeletons and field notes. Ours is one of the world’s most comprehensive biodiversity research resources.