The UPLB Museum of Natural History (also known as MNH) is a natural science and natural history museum within the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) campus. It serves as a center for documentation, research, and information^[2] of flora and fauna of the Philippines. The museum is one of the research and extension units of the UPLB and its role parallels that of a library for written records.^[3]

A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (May 2020)

Quick Facts Established, Location ...

UPLB Museum of Natural History

"UPLB Museum" or "MNH"
The UPLB Museum of Natural History logo depicts eight green leaves, which represent the eight sections of the museum.
The front of the UPLB Museum of Natural History, with visiting school students.
Established	September 30, 1976 (1976-09-30)
Location	University of the Philippines Los Baños
Coordinates	14°9′21.66″N 121°14′10.59″E
Type	Natural history museum
Accreditation	Southern Luzon Association of Museums
Key holdings	DS Rabor Wildlife Collection, LA Corpuz-Raros Acarological Collection
Collections	Preserved biological specimens in skins and fluid
Collection size	>600,000 specimens[1]
Visitors	Average of 25,000 yearly
Director	Dr. Marian P. De Leon
Owner	Government of the Philippines
Employees	17
Public transit access	Jeepneys only from UPLB lower campus
Nearest parking	On site (no charge)
Website	mnh.uplb.edu.ph

Close

The museum was established through the approval of the University of the Philippines Board of Regents during its 877th meeting in 1976. According to the announcement published at the time, it was to be "organized out of the staff and physical resources of the existing museum and herbaria at UPLB, including the hortorium and culture collections of separate departments in the Colleges of Agriculture, Forestry, and Sciences and Humanities."^[4]

Its founding director was the late Professor Juan V. Pancho, a plant taxonomist of national and international acclaim and an indefatigable mentor to a select group of Filipino and foreign plant taxonomists.^[5]

During World War II, the then UP College of Agriculture and the insect collections of Dr. Charles Fuller Baker (the second Dean of the College), Dr. Leopoldo Uichanco (The Father of Entomology in the Philippines and Pioneer of Insect Ecology^[6]) and many other entomologists were burned and destroyed.^[7]

The museum has more than 600,000 specimens^[1] distributed to the following sections: Botanical Herbarium, Entomological Museum, Forestry Herbarium and Wood Collection, Mycological Herbarium, Hortorium, Microbial and Algal Culture Collections, Zoological and Wildlife Museum, and the Integrated Biodiversity Exhibit.

For a small organization, the museum is a productive research organization in terms of discoveries and new descriptions of species. Below are some species of organisms which have been directly described by curators and staff, or in which they were a significant part of, and/or those which have been named in honor of them.

More species listed in UPLB Museum of Natural History website.^[98]

As a public service institution dedicated to biodiversity conservation education, the museum regularly holds exhibits, special tours, seminars, training programs, and provide technical assistance to local government units, other organizations and communities.

For scientists and researchers, the museum is able to provide services such as scientific name verification, biological specimen identification, and provision of microbial cultures.

The museum publishes its own peer-reviewed journal, Laksambuhay: The UPLB Journal of Natural History.^[99]

Aside from hosting its own scientific gathering, i.e. CLADES 2017, to gather stakeholders of the Philippine natural history collections system and enhance the overall appreciation of natural history collections for increased networking and collaboration,^[100] the Museum also collaborates with other scientific organizations and societies in the holding of meetings and conferences, e.g. 25th SEAZA Conference (2018)^[101] and the 11th ANRRC International Meeting Philippines (2019) which highlighted the roles of biological resource centers, that includes museums, in the conservation, preservation, and utilization of animal, plant and microbial resources.^[102]

The museum is headed by a Director which is appointed by the UPLB Chancellor for a term of three (3 years), renewable for at least two (2) terms. The Director is selected by the Chancellor traditionally from the set of eligible faculty nominees. During the Director's administration, he or she is supported by Coordinators which can be appointed from the regular personnel. To facilitate and assist the Director in administering improvements and execution of the mandates and functions of the Museum, coordinators of major functions (Research, Extension, Collections Management, Linkages and Academic Programs^[103]) are duly appointed.

There are 29 UPLB regular faculty, Professors Emeriti and researchers recently appointed by the UPLB Chancellor to serve as Museum Curators based on their field of expertise. The museum curator's specialization and projects in their own respected academic and research field hold significant contributions to the raising worldwide status and recognition of the museum.

At present, there are four (4) curators for the Botanical Herbarium and Hortorium, seven (7) for the Entomological Museum curators, three (3) for the Microbial and Algal Culture Collections, three (3) for the Forestry Herbarium and Wood collection, two (2) for the Mycological Herbarium, 10 for the Zoological and Wildlife Collections and one curator for the Special Collections.

The UPLB Museum of Natural History is a multi-awarded organization with well-recognized staff and curators. Its most active personnel and experts not only contribute to the expansion of the collections but also lend credence to the experience and capability of the museum in terms of natural history research and studies; taxonomy and systematics; biodiversity conservation and education.