In Collaboration with Major Northeast Ohio Research Institutions

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, The Holden Arboretum, and the biology department of Case Western Reserve University have entered into a five-year affiliation agreement—sharing resources and enhancing opportunities for collaboration between researchers and students in the fields of biodiversity and evolutionary biology.
 
Under the terms of the agreement, each institution and Case will provide biology researchers with shared access to the unique resources housed at each campus, while providing enhanced opportunities for educating undergraduate and postgraduate students.
 
“This agreement charts a standing institutional relationship that enhances the world-class biological research coming out of this region,” said Dr. Gavin Svenson, Director of Research and Collections and Curator of Invertebrate Zoology at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. “Ultimately, this agreement advances the training and experiences of students that work across both institutions in their coursework, independent research, and graduate training. Leveraging these two institutions’ capabilities and commitment to education not only augments their research potential, but allows students to communicate their science through Museum programs and community-engagement activities.”
 
Museum scientists and researchers will be eligible for faculty appointments in the Department of Biology, where they would also serve as academic advisors to undergraduate and graduate students who would participate in Museum research programs. Further, demonstrating a shared commitment to scientific training, both institutions will support students financially throughout their tenure.
 
Similarly, Case biology faculty will be eligible for appointments in the Research and Collections division of the Museum, where they would have access to the Museum library and extensive collections while serving as curatorial resources for Museum exhibit, program, and outreach development.
 
“This is about discovery and engagement,” said Sonia Winner, President and CEO of the Museum. “This partnership allows for more expansive, richer programming to educate the general public at the Museum while offering deeper opportunities for researchers and their students to make groundbreaking discoveries in their fields. Together, we can ensure this region is prepared to face the ecological challenges of tomorrow head-on.”
 
“To offer our combined expertise and collaborate in our exploration of new knowledge is a major win for Northeast Ohio,” Winner added.
 
The agreement is in place through June 30, 2023, at which point it will be eligible for renewal on a biannual basis.