Educational Collections The Zoology Section has many types of users who impact the specimens in different ways and to different degrees. Our goal is to find the delicate balance between use and conservation. As such, we have put together several types of special collections, which we hope will help retain this balance. Each type of special collection has a different level of scientific importance, and therefore a different level of protection from potential users. Please contact a member of the primary curatorial staff for information about any of this material. Also see the Education Section of the Museum for information about other educational materials and programs. K-12 Educational Collections: These collections have the highest availability to users and the lowest level of protection. Generally these are specimens with no data, or specimens that have been deaccessioned from the main collection, and are considered "expendable." As the name suggests, these are available to K-12 educators, and can be handled freely by the students. As such, they can (and probably will) be damaged over time. These specimens are also available to any other user of our collections (general public, artists, upper and lower division university classes, etc.). Traveling Exhibits: These are at the same protection/use level as the K-12 collections. They consist of taxadermied birds and mammals in wooden boxes. When the lid is opened, the specimens are protected by a clear plastic window. K-12 educators get first priority, but anyone can use them. These are now managed by the Education Section of the University of Colorado Museum. Please contact the Education Coordinator for more information, (303) 492-4843. Synoptic Teaching Collections: These collections have the next higher level of protection vs. user availability. These are collections of specimens that are segregated specifically for use in approved upper division biology classes on campus (Biology of Mollusks, Ichthyology, Ecology of Fishes, Advanced Vertebrate Biology, Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles, Mammalogy, and Ornithology). They are composed of a mix of specimens with little or no data and specimens with good data (except for rare or historical data). Although the approved classes have first priority of use, the specimens are occasionally loaned out to other users (nature centers, other upper division classes, etc.), as long as they are not handled by the students. Specimens with data are available to researchers. Research Collections: This type of collection makes up the bulk of the Zoology Section. Generally, these are loaned out only to researchers and graduate students. Although their use in upper division biology classes is discouraged, they can be used occasionally to supplement synoptic material. These specimens have good data and are therefore well protected.