A survey conducted this fall found strong public support for the Berry Center’s Biodiversity Institute (BI), set to close this December after it runs out of funding.
Distributed online to the general public mid-September, the survey received 717 responses, 396 from Laramie residents and 173 from across the state. Most of the remaining out-of-state responses came from University of Wyoming alumni and some from BI collaborators, with 129 respondents from 32 states and five countries (Australia, Canada, Israel, Nepal and the U.K.).
706 of 717 respondents, or 98.5 percent, indicated UW should continuing supporting the Biodiversity Institute.
“The broad support for the BI across the state is indicative of the success of the outreach effort of this unit and is in complete alignment with UW’s strategic plan,” wrote Dr. Merav Ben-David, the UW Department of Zoology and Physiology professor who conducted the survey and authored the report. “Also remarkable is the widespread reputation of the BI across the nation and the world.”
The institute, founded in 2012, aims to promote understanding and conservation of biological diversity through a variety of interdisciplinary programs. At the Berry Center, these programs include seminars and lectures, the Vertebrate Museum tour, art exhibitions, live raptor show, educational events for children and a concert series. The Institute also hosts Citizen Science programs like the short-eared owl survey, BioBlitz, Moose Day, Rocky Mountain Amphibian Project and Girl Scouts in Science.
605 respondents indicated having personally participated in more than one BI-sponsored activity, making for a total 1,893 contacts with BI programs.
“The high number of contacts reveals the success of the BI in engaging the public in biodiversity-related issues,” Ben-David concluded. “This is not surprising given the number and diversity of activities offered by the BI.”
The survey, which also asked participants to rate their agreement with statements about the BI, showed high approval ratings; 97.1 percent agreed that “The BI is an effective venue for promoting education,” 96.5 percent indicated that “The BI provides a valuable portal for information about Wyoming biodiversity” and 89.3 found that “The BI is a welcoming place for families and individuals.”
Ben-David also collected 36 pages of free-response comments. Respondents praised the BI as “a model of genuine interdisciplinarity,” “the definition of community engagement,” “something Wyoming has nothing else like in the entire state,” “a jewel in the crown of the university” and “the most potent, effective, and exemplary public outreach venture at UW.”
Respondents also had words about the decision to close the institute, writing “without it, the attitudes toward Wyoming based science both on campus and off, would suffer” and “This decision by UW Administration is ridiculous and insulting to everyone involved.”
A town hall meeting about the closing and the future of biodiversity research and programs at the university will be held at the Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center auditorium on Oct. 31 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. to accept final comments from the public. Input from the meeting will be incorporated into a final plan for the BI to be presented to the UW Board of Trustees at its November meeting.
