The Natural history museum has celebrated the start of construction at its new state-of-the-art collections, research and digitisation centre in Shinfield.
Located at Thames Valley Science Park, the facility will house purpose-built storage for 28 million specimens, equal to around a third of the museum’s vast collection.
As a major scientific research hub, it will provide innovative digital, analytical, and genomic technologies and facilities for the scientific community.
The museum’s collections of mammals, non-insect invertebrates (such as corals,
crustaceans, molluscs, and worms), fossilised mammals and invertebrates, molecular collections, and micropalaeontology will be housed at the new centre in bespoke storage.
Transporting these immense collections to Shinfield will be one of the largest moves of natural history specimens globally.
Natural history museum director Dr Doug Gurr says: “This ambitious project will transform the research capabilities of not only our 400-strong scientific team but also researchers around the world – accelerating solutions-led research into some of the greatest challenges facing the planet.
“The potential for this centre is boundless, from helping protect and restore critical habitats to finding the critical minerals to support the energy transition,
“It could even prove pivotal in preventing the next global pandemic.”
The centre has been developed in partnership with the University of Reading, renowned for its world-leading research in environmental science.
University of Reading vice-chancellor professor Robert van de Noort said: “This collaboration perfectly aligns with our commitment to world- leading environmental research and innovation.
“By developing this state-of-the-art facility at Thames Valley Science Park, we are creating unprecedented opportunities for collaborative research that will help address the planet’s most pressing challenges.”
The project is part of the NHM Unlocked Programme. It is generously enabled through a substantial £201 million investment from the government as part of its priority to increase investment in science, research and development.
The facility will span the equivalent of three football pitches, totalling 25,000 sqm.
It is expected to be finished in 2027 and operational by 2031.
