The Furman University Natural History Collections (FUNHC) are housed in the Charles H. Townes Science Center on the Furman University campus in Greenville, SC, USA. The collections include insects (primarily butterflies and moths), plants (primarily vascular), and small vertebrates (reptiles, amphibians, birds, and small mammals). The collections contain a rich history of Furman University undergraduate collectors who went on to become pioneering scientists in their own rights, including one Nobel Prize winner.
Through active curation and digitization of existing collections, FUNHC can become a key resource for the preservation and conservation of biodiversity in the South Carolina Upstate region. In keeping with The Furman Advantage (TFA), FUNHC seeks to engage students in collections curation through classroom learning combined with real-world experiences, building pathways for future career opportunities.
