About Us

The Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability at the California Academy of Sciences is at the forefront of efforts to understand two of the most important topics of our time: the nature and sustainability of life on Earth. It's home to more than 100 world-class scientists, state-of-the-art facilities, and a collection of nearly 46 million scientific specimens—one of the largest and most diverse in the world.

Through expeditions around the globe and investigations in the lab, the Institute’s scientists work to understand the evolution and interconnectedness of organisms and ecosystems, the threats they face around the world, and the most effective strategies for sustaining them into the future. With innovative collaborations and public engagement initiatives, they also guide critical sustainability and conservation decisions worldwide, inspire and mentor the next generation of scientists, and help citizens become responsible stewards of our planet.

The Academy has recently launched bold new initiatives that expand our mission to explore, explain, and sustain life on Earth. See how we're doing it: