Boston Harbor Islands All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (BHI ATBI)
(Left: Heat map showing locations BHI ATBI specimens were collected)
The Farrell Lab, Museum of Comparative Zoology, and Boston Harbor Islands Partnership collaborated to conduct an All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) of the Boston Harbor Islands national park area. The project focused on the "microwilderness" of the islands, namely, insects and other invertebrates. This extremely diverse group of animals is easily sampled, yet often overlooked.
The goal was to combine scientific research with public education, and to foster an appreciation for the amazing biological diversity that exists within Boston Harbor.
While the larger site is currently offline, more about this project, including the database, can be found here: https://farrell.oeb.harvard.edu/boston-harbor-islands-all-taxa-biodiversity-inventory
Biocaribe.org
On July 11, 2007, the oldest university in the Americas, the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD), marked the first anniversary of the entry of its natural history collections into the digital global community (biocaribe.org). This ongoing venture is a result of collaboration between the Farrell Lab and UASD.
In digitizing this collection, students at UASD learn the latest techniques of data capture and digital imaging, and feel the excitement of seeing their specimen images online, together with those from Harvard and other world collections. Scientists worldwide are studying the online collections, with the formality of loans of specimens for research now facilitated by their accessibility.
[site under maintenance]
Los Niños de Leonardo y Meredith
Prof. Farrell uses the fruits of the lab's research in the Dominican Republic to inspire children's interest in the natural world. He has collaborated with Los Niños de Leonardo y Meredith to teach children about the insects of the Dominican Republic, providing them with materials to further their interests and studies. Through resin blocks which have actual insects embedded within them to posters of actual insects at many times life size, students are able to see the world around them in new ways.
Article in Spring/Summer 2010 ReVista - "Making a difference: Insect Lessons"