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By LeAnn Askins

JONESBORO -- The Arkansas State University Department of Biological Sciences offers a wealth of information and research opportunities, but more space is needed to adequately house the school's collections a professor said.

Speaking to the Kiwanis Club Wednesday, Dr. Aldemaro Romero, a professor and chairman of the department, said the 5,000 square feet of space in 13 rooms at the college is not enough to appropriately curate the large number of collections.

"This is by far the best collection that exists in this part of the country," he noted.

Romero said a biodiversity center would help with curating the collection and make it more accessible for research.

"About 500 biologists, not only from ASU, have used those collections," he explained.

Hopes are to build the Repository of Arkansas Natural Heritage to help with the space and storage issues.

Such a community center could be interactive between the scientists and the pubic, Romero noted.

The facility would be a 5-story building with areas for collections and scientists, an area for the public and a greenhouse on the roof, the chairman said.

He noted that there have been offers for additional collections to be added to the ones currently at ASU, but there simply isn't enough room. Larger facilities would allow for the collections to continue to grow.

"We have a responsibility to keep this for future generations," he stressed.

A program that would start a biological database and data sharing could also be developed, Romero explained. Internet sites could also be implemented to allow scientists and researches to view the information anywhere in the world.

The three main objectives of a repository would be teaching, research and outreach.

The chairman said the estimated 5-year budget for such a project would be $10 million, which would include $7 million for the facility and $3 million for equipment and furniture.

Romero said private donations would be sought to fund the project.

There are currently about 600 students, both undergraduate and graduate students, in the biology program.

Romero said such a biological database would not only benefit Arkansas, but would raise awareness around the world.

leann@jonesborosun.com