Biodiversity Institute

Across Wyoming, the Biodiversity Institute connects people with the wildlife, ecosystems, and science happening right in their communities. Your gift helps make free community science projects, public programs, K-12 education, and graduate research opportunities possible. From listening for bats after dark to surveying amphibians and supporting the next generation of biodiversity scientists, every gift helps more people experience, understand, and care for Wyoming's biodiversity.

Thanks to your support over the past 14 years, we've supported the next generation of biodiversity scientists by awarding over 90 grants to UW master's and Ph.D. students. In 2026 alone, we awarded $36,000 to 10 UW students! We also engaged with over 3,000 people throughout Wyoming through a number of events:

• outreach events like our free Summer Bat Walks, Wyoming's only Bat Conservation International-certified program;
• participatory science projects where volunteers collect valuable data and immerse themselves in the scientific process, such as Moose Day, Mullen Fire Initiative, and Wyoming Salamander Migration Project;
• family-friendly events like Bug Day, Salamander Saturday, Science Cafes, and more; and
• the Wyoming Naturalist Program, which has now grown to more than 90 naturalists over the last 4 years!

These programs give Wyoming people opportunities to learn about the biodiversity around them, contribute to research, and connect with the scientists studying it.

Help us reach 60 donors and continue to bring UW's incredible biodiversity science throughout Wyoming! On behalf of all the students, community members, plants, and animals who benefit, we extend our deepest appreciation for your generosity.