Dear Friends,

The School of Biological Sciences is creating a new insect collection for teaching and outreach and has recently received funding through the Teaching & Learning Enhancement Projects scheme for a student to work with us on developing this new resource. More information about the ‘ITALIC’ project (Integrated Teaching and Learning Insect Collection) is attached.

At present our teaching collections are housed in a series of mismatched wooden storage boxes. More boxes of one type would allow us to expand the collection and organised it flexibly for teaching, outreach and we hope in future an extra-curricular student led entomology society.

We would also like to procure some glass topped display cases, preferably housed in a cabinet system for security and ease of storage. These would enable us to create a ‘showcase’ collection more suitable for use at open days and for future outreach activities. As wider society becomes more aware of the importance of insects we anticipate growing opportunities for outreach promoting entomology — the study of insects – drawing on the enthusiasm of our MSc Entomology students.

10 x wooden specimen storage boxes £624.60 excluding VAT (£62.46 each)

1 or 2 10-drawer specimen storage cabinet at £1512 each

Total: £2136.60 – £3648.60 including VAT

Funding for any of these items would enable us to enhance the attractiveness and value of the new collection.

Thank you for considering our proposal.

Best wishes

Chris