The California Academy of Sciences Was Just Awarded $10 Million To Digitize Its Collections

The California Academy of Sciences is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike in San Francisco. The historic academy is over 170 years old and has an aquarium, planetarium, and a large natural history museum. It continues to be an important scientific museum today. Recently, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 105, which awards $10 million to the museum to digitize its scientific collections. > “Scientific collections are far more than cabinets of specimens—they are a living library of life that holds the keys to regenerating our planet. As climate change and biodiversity loss accelerate, these collections help us see the patterns of the past, understand the challenges of the present, and imagine innovative solutions for the future. They remind us of our responsibility to care for the only home we’ve ever known, and invite us to join a global movement to conserve, protect, and regenerate the natural world for all living beings.” Said Executive Director Scott Sampson. The academy is home to 46 million scientific specimens , but less than 10% are digitized and available online. Earlier this year, the academy announced its efforts to digitize its entire botanical collection, which has 2.3 million specimens . The academy has numerous educational resources online , including science activities for children and live webcams of animals at the academy. The museum is located in Golden Gate Park, just across from the world-renowned art museum, the de Young. If you haven’t been to the museum yet, we recommend attending one of their NightLife events that open the museum after hours for a party that features music, cocktails, and the chance to explore the museum. The events are on Thursday nights at the academy, and each has different performers and themes. You can learn more about the California Academy of Sciences and reserve tickets here. Source: https://secretsanfrancisco.com/california-academy-of-sciences-digitize-millions/