The California Academy of Science is a world leader in the scientific study of biological diversity. We support 20 curators and 80 other scientists, students and staff in their research activities.
Our objectives in research are to explore and explain the evolution and maintenance of life. We seek knowledge about phylogenetic relationships, taxonomic and genomic diversity and the mechanisms of evolutionary change. Our scientific research and collections provide empirical knowledge useful in sustaining life's future.
Summer Systematics Institute
The Summer Systematics Institute is an 8-week internship program for undergraduates that focuses on biodiversity, phylogenetic systematics and evolutionary biology. Based at our facility in Golden Gate Park, the program accommodates up to eight students who are interested in hands-on, collections-based research. Applications are due on or before February 13, 2009. Learn more »
Anthropology
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The work done in our department spans many areas within this broad field. The Academy's anthropology collection of approximately 16,000 objects represents material cultures from peoples throughout the world. Learn more » |
Aquatic Biology
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Combining research collections and exploration, with husbandry and engineering skills, members of this department advance our understanding of aquatic organisms. Learn more » |
Botany
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The herbarium of the California Academy of Sciences is the largest collection of vascular plants in the western United States. |
Center for Biodiversity Research and Information
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CBRI's mission is to foster, disseminate and integrate multidisciplinary research based on the biodiversity data residing in CAS specimen collections. Learn more » |
Center for Comparative Genomics
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The Center for Comparative Genomics is a core facility comprised of a Genomics Sequencing lab, an 88-core High Performance Computing Cluster and a DNA CryoCollection. Learn more » |
Entomology
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The Academy entomology collection contains more than 10,000,000 specimens. Learn more » |
Herpetology
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The California Academy of Sciences' amphibian and reptile collection is one of the ten largest collections in the world. Learn more » |
Ichthyology
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The Ichthyology department includes an exceptional departmental library and the third most important fish collection in North America. It serves as one of eight International Centers for Ichthyology. |
Informatics
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Ensuring that information flows efficiently, from creation, through analysis, into appropriate outputs, is the essence of biodiversity informatics -- the application of information technology to the domain of biodiversity. Learn more » |
Invertebrate Zoology and Geology
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The Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Geology (or IZ&G) maintains four major collections: Recent invertebrates, fossils (invertebrates, vertebrates, and plants), diatoms (fossil and living), and minerals. Learn more » |
Library
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The Academy has an extensive library that is an outstanding resource to the research community. Learn more » |
Ornithology and Mammalogy
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With representatives from over 120 countries, our ornithology collections contain more than 107,000 specimens, and our mammal collection more than 30,000 specimens. Learn more » |
Curators and Scientists |
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Academy Fellows |
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Educational Resources |
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Scientific Publications |
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Research Seminars |
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Academy scientists offer a variety of seminars for the research community. Learn more »
