The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois will cut $3 million from its budget for science. An additional $2 million in reductions will be sought from other programs. The spending reductions were prompted by the recession and institution’s debt.
Richard Lariviere, the museum’s president, announced the cost cutting plans this week. Staff layoffs are possible, even of tenured scientists. Lariviere told reporters that the bulk of the spending cuts will fall on research because of previous reductions in support staff. The museum will also restructure its four discipline-based research departments into one Science and Education program.
The museum also plans to boost revenues by using its own collections for exhibitions, rather than paying to display outside specimens.