Every year scientists discover new species of marine life withinour vast global oceans. Each of these new discoveries adds to the catalogue ofknown organisms on Earth, and deepens the knowledge of ocean biodiversity.
Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego houses severalof the most important libraries of ocean specimens in the world and they areknown as the Scripps Oceanographic Collections.
Over the past few years Scripps has incurred several budgetcuts and resulting from this, they are introducing a novel way for donors toshow their support for these valuable and irreplaceable science and teachingresources: by naming a newly discovered marine species. Every year collections staff and researchersdiscover new species of marine creatures. Some specimens set new records, suchas the stout infantfish (Schindleria brevipinguis), co-described by Scripps asthe world’s smallest fish in 2004.
Traditionally, the person who first describes a newfoundplant or animal is entitled to name it, but now, Scripps is inviting the publicto share in the process by naming select newly discovered species acquired bythe institution. The names can be selected by a donor for themself or a friendor family member, and are then introduced in scientific publications thatestablishes the new species name permanently.
The cost to name Scripps’ newly discovered creatures startsat $5,000. Donors who name a species will receive a framed print of their namedorganism, as well as a copy of the scientific publication in which it is firstdescribed. Funds raised through this new naming opportunity will be used tohelp maintain and build upon the Scripps Oceanographic Collections for futuregenerations of scientists.
The website for Scripps is http://www.sio.ucsd.edu/Research/Oceanographic_Collections/
