Practical information, specimen collection, and scientific discussion were major goals of the founders of the San Diego Society of Natural History in 1874. Today, the Museum’s Biodiversity Research Center of the Californias (BRCC) serves as a leader for the preservation and interpretation of scientific specimens that document the biodiversity of southern California and Baja California. The extensive collections of the BRCC support Museum scientists’ research and publications . BRCC scientists also work with Museum Education and Exhibits staff to link scientific research with permanent exhibitions and educational programming. By promoting a collaborative, cross-border dialogue, BRCC scientists hope to preserve the biodiversity and natural resources in our region.
Read about new discoveries, field research, conservation highlights, and what our scientists are up to.
Research departments and collections at the San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) include: Birds and Mammals, Botany, Entomology, Herpetology, Marine Invertebrates, Mineralogy, Paleontology, and the Research Library.
Plant and animal atlases provide information on the distribution, abundance, and long-term change of species in a particular geographic area. Our scientists have developed a collection of atlas projects to promote a deeper understanding of the biodiversity of southern California and Baja California. More.
The Museum conducts expeditions and other field research along the Baja California peninsula, which is a major portion of our area of emphasis. Museum scientists often work with specialists in different disciplines from various institutions in the United States and Mexico. More.
The mission of the Biodiversity Research Center of the Californias (BRCC) is to conduct field explorations and collections-based research; to preserve specimens and associated information that document our region's natural history and biodiversity; to provide scientific knowledge about the natural history of our region; and to support the San Diego Natural History Museum's mission by laying the scientific foundation for its operation and programs.
Behind-the-Scenes
Scientific collections are a continual investment by society that allow us to better understand the natural world. In the face of disappearing habitats, species extinctions, and the destruction of geological and paleontological sites, the specimens in our collections have become nonrenewable resources.