Grants Awarded

" Those who dwell, as scientists or laymen, among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life." Rachel Carson
	Grant awarded: Russell Daws Project Coordinator: Tallahassee Museum Recipient: Alachua Astronomy Club Purpose: Funding for the exhibition 'Alien Attack: Target Everglades' Outcome: To promote education about the top ten most invasive plants and animals in the Everglades and southern United States. This program will allow for the identification of invasives locally as well as give an understanding of how to prevent their spread.
	Grant awarded: City of Gainesville, 2001 Recipient: Alachua Astronomy Club Purpose: Create a scale model of the solar system to aid as an educational tool for conceptualizing the solar system and beautify the city of Gainesville, Florida. Outcome: The project was completed in 2001 and can be used by elementary schools and the general public. See: www.floridastars.org
	Grant awarded: University of Florida, 2002 Project Coordinator: Florida Museum of Natural History Purpose: Supplement funding for the traveling exhibit “Tusks! Ice Age Florida’s Mammoths and Mastodons”. Outcome: The specimen – rich exhibit provided educational opportunities about ice age mammals and information revealed through fossil discovery. See: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/tusks/
	Grant awarded: University of Florida, 2003 Project Coordinator: Bruce J. McFadden, Ph.D. Purpose: To support informative talks with fossil clubs within the Florida area and facilitate proactive collaboration of events between groups. Outcome: As of 2006, Dr. Bruce McFadden has conducted numerous talks with fossil clubs as well as prepared and emailed an electronic brochure.
	Grant awarded: New Mexico Museum of Natural History, 2005 Researchers: Gary S. Morgan, Nicholas J. Czaplewski Purpose: Collection of small bats and other micro-vertebrate fossils to gain knowledge of early evolutionary history of bats, as well as other samples from the midwestern badlands. Outcome: The participants continue to gather specimens and research material from Midwestern Oligocene deposits.
	Grant awarded: University of Florida, 2006 Project Coordinator: Florida Museum of Natural History Purpose: Funding for the “Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived” exhibit. Outcome: The exhibition features a 60-foot-long walk-through shark sculpture and highlights the evolution, biology and misconceptions regarding giant prehistoric sharks. See: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/megalodon
	Grant awarded: University of Florida; Ben B. Coffey, Jr. Endowment Researcher(s): David Steadman, 2007 Purpose: Contribution made for further investigation of the Thomas Farm, Florida fossil site operated by the Florida Museum of Natural History. Outcome: Ongoing
	Grant awarded: University of Florida; Museum Bulletin Endowment Researcher(s): Dana J. Ehret, 2007 Purpose: Funding granted to the Museum Bulletin Endowment to help supplement the costs of publishing research involving fossil tortoises. Outcome: See: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/bulletin/bulletin_vols.htm
	Grant awarded: Sue and Steve Hutchens Collection, 2007 Project Coordinator: Bruce J. McFadden, Ph. D. Purpose: Curation of the private collection of fossils donated by Steve and Sue Hutchens Outcome: Fossil specimens collected in Florida and Nebraska were donated to the Florida Museum of Natural History and have been incorporated into the collection.
	Grant awarded: University of Nebraska Trailside Museum of Natural History Excellence Fund, 2007 Project Coordinator: N/A Purpose: Funding for the continuation of museum exhibits. Outcome: