The Natural Science Collections Alliance (NSC Alliance) has written to the leadership of Fort Hays State University and the Kansas Board of Regents to express profound concern over reports that the Sternberg Museum of Natural History may close.
One of the premier natural history museums of the Great Plains, the Sternberg holds more than three million specimens, including the world-renowned “Fish-within-a-Fish” fossil and the largest collection of fossil grasses in the world. In its letter, the NSC Alliance stressed that these collections—and the expert curatorial staff who care for them—are an irreplaceable scientific and educational resource, documenting life across the Great Plains over hundreds of millions of years and remaining essential to research on biodiversity, climate, agriculture, and public health.
The letter also underscored the museum’s role in inspiring future scientists: “Natural history museums are not just where students learn about fossils, insects, or plants, they are where students discover that they themselves really can be paleontologists, zoologists, or botanists. The closure of the Sternberg Museum will undoubtedly lead to the loss of hands-on training and experiential learning opportunities, making the paths to careers in these disciplines less accessible to future FHSU students.”
The NSC Alliance urged decision-makers to prioritize the integrity of the collections and the continuity of the staff who steward them, and encouraged them to “consult available experts and resources, including professional societies such as the NSC Alliance, as the discussion moves forward.”