Invertebrate Zoology Collection Policies

The collection is open to qualified visitors, researchers, and students. All visitors or interns will be given basic safety information. 

Harvard affiliated undergraduates, graduate students and post-doctoral researchers

 Any individuals working in the laboratories of Invertebrate Zoology Faculty Curators or conducting an approved internship in the Department will be granted swipe card access to the collection. Undergraduates and interns will be permitted in the collections Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm and will need their respective supervisor or a staff member present with them. No visitor or intern will have access to shared collections spaces (NW B3, MCZ G001, MCZ G006) without a staff member present. 

Visiting researchers 

 The collection is open to visitors Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, excluding Harvard University holidays.* Email Curatorial Associate Adam Baldinger to arrange a visit. Please provide the following information when emailing your request: 

• name and title
• institutional affiliation
• contact information
• date(s) you would like to visit
• a brief description of your project
• a list of specimens you would like to study (search MCZbase)
• a list of equipment you may need (i.e. stereomicroscope, camera stand, etc.)

Short term (<7 days) visiting researchers will be granted swipe card access. This temporary card needs to be returned to Adam Baldinger prior to your departure.

Long term (>7 days) visiting researchers will need to get a Harvard University issued identification card. This card will be used for swipe card access to the Department.

*Exceptions may be made, but on a case-by-case basis.

1. Loan requests from faculty and staff of universities, museums, and scientific organizations are considered on a case-by-case basis. Students may borrow specimens only through their advisors. All loans are considered to be the responsibility of the institution with which the borrower is affiliated.
2. Loans will be made for scientific and educational purposes only.
3. All specimens and parts thereof must be returned to the MCZ.
4. All labels must stay with the specimens at all times. Never discard any pieces of paper found with specimens, even if paper appears to be blank. Any new labels added should be dated and signed, and should be on label quality paper, using permanent ink or pencil.
5. All loan specimens must be kept in the preserving fluid in which they were received, unless permission to change medium is granted.
6. Permission must be granted before any of the following procedures are performed on MCZ specimens: dissection; preparation for SEM photography; making permanent microscopic slides; DNA analysis; clearing & staining; any other destructive procedure.
7. Unless otherwise noted, non-type material may be lent for one year.  Loans of type material will be made for six months from date of receipt.  Primary and secondary types of the same species will not be loaned together.
8. Credit for use of MCZ material should be given in resulting publications, and reprints should be sent to the Department of Invertebrate Zoology.
9. Returns of DRY material must be made via Registered Air Mail or its equivalent. Returns of ALL FLUID preserved material must be made via FedEx following ALL Department of Transportation, Airline and FedEx hazardous materials packing and labeling protocols. Department of Loans should not be returned during December because of the increased volume of mail during the holidays.

Mailing Address:

Adam Baldinger
Department of Invertebrate Zoology
Museum of Comparative Zoology
Harvard University
26 Oxford Street
Cambridge, MA 02138 USA

In order to balance the need to preserve specimens for future use with the need to conduct appropriate research, the following guidelines will be used in making decisions about use of MCZ specimens:

1. The term "destructive sampling" applies to any procedure done with an MCZ specimen that results in the alteration of the condition of the specimen. This includes dissections, SEM preparations, molecular or chemical analyses, mounting or remounting of specimens on microscope slides, clearing or staining, removal of parasites or commensals.
2. All requests for destructive sampling will be made in writing, and will contain the following information:
   1. What specimens are needed
   2. What will be done to the specimens
   3. How it will be done
   4. Why it is necessary 
3. During any destructive procedure, as much of the specimen as possible will be kept in the original condition.
4. Any material remaining after the analysis will be returned to the MCZ. This includes:
   1. The specimens and all dissected parts. Detached parts should be housed in microvials or other appropriate containers, and included in the container with the dissected specimen. Care should be taken that the separate vial does not damage other specimens in the container.
   2. SEM stubs
5. Specimens mounted or remounted on microscope slides should be labeled with specimen data. The date, mounting medium, and name of person mounting the specimen should be recorded on the slide. All original slide labels should be preserved and placed on the new slide.
6. Decisions to grant permission for destructive sampling will be based on:
   1. Uniqueness of the specimen. Any procedure that will destroy either holotypes, or specimens of endangered species, will be denied.
   2. Degree of destruction
   3. Significance of research