" Those who dwell, as scientists or laymen, among the beauties
and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life."
Rachel Carson |
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Grant awarded: Meteorite Exhibits, 2013-
Recipients: Multiple
Purpose: Distribute large Campo del Cielo meteorites to public venues
for hands-on exhibits.
Outcome: Ongoing
See: Campo del Cielo Meterorite Exhibits
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Grant awarded: Lowell Observatory, 2013
Project Coordinators: Samantha Christensen, Kevin Schindler, Ralph Nye,
Antoinette Beiser, Jeff Hall
Purpose: The Toomey Foundation is the lead sponsor for the restoration of the famous Clark refracting telescope at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. The Clark telescope played important roles in the study of Mars (Pervical Lowell), the nature of the expanding universe (V. M. Slipher), and the mapping of the Moon in advance of the Apollo Program. Since its transition to an outreach telescope, more than 1 million visitors have looked through the Clark telescope.
Outcome: Fundraiser was completed in the Spring, 2013. Restoration began in 2013. Restoration completed in 2015.
More information: The Clark Refractor
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Grant awarded: North Carolina State University, 2012
Project Coordinator: Edwin Cadena
Purpose: Molecular paleontology of Mesozoic and Cenozoic marine turtles of Columbia.
Outcome: Research published in 2015.
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Grant awarded: University of Wyoming, 2012
Project Coordinator: Emma Stewart
Purpose: Botanical Study of Beaverhead National Forest
Outcome: Conducted a floristic inventory of vascular plants on the Madison Ranger District of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in southwest Montana. Collected over 8000 botanical specimens, identified collections to species or infraspecific level, mapped rare plant populations, used ArcGIS for data management.
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Grant awarded: Florida Museum of Natural History, 2010-2011
Project Coordinator: Douglas S. Jones, Ph.D.
Purpose: Cruisin' the Fossil Freeway temporary exhibit promoted the history of Florida and increased awareness of fossils, fossil sites around the United States, evolution and extinction. The Toomey Foundation for the Natural Sciences was one of the lead sponsors of this exhibit.
Outcome: Exhibit ran from February 4 through September 3, 2012. Over 40,000 visitors attended.
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Grant awarded:Tallahassee Museum, 2009
Project Coordinator: Russell Daws
Purpose: Funding for the exhibition Alien Attack: Target Everglades
Purpose: 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.
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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:
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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. |

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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. |
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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: Florida Museum of Natural History
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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: Alachua Astronomy Club, Inc.
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