Amid potential cuts to federal museum funding, the San Diego Natural History Museum has received a $10 million gift from Qualcomm founder and philanthropist Irwin Jacobs to create the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Science and Conservation.
An official announcement this week said the money will bolster the museum’s research and conservation efforts, including collaborations with other academic and research institutions.
Museum president Judy Gradwohl described the gift as “transformational.”
“We are grateful for the opportunity to expand our research and ensure that our region’s biodiversity is studied, resilient and celebrated for years to come,” Gradwohl said. “It boosts our ability to employ new technology, work with partner organizations and train the next generation of conservation scientists.”
Over the last 150 years, the museum, known as the Nat, has built a collection of more than 8 million specimens of native plants, fossils, animals, insects, reptiles and marine life.
The expansive collection has allowed researchers to sequence the DNA of endangered species, develop AI tools to help identify and sort specimens and search for cures for disease. Currently, scientists from the Salk Institute are testing plants in the Nat’s herbarium for neuroprotective and anti-aging properties that may help treat dementia.
In a statement, Jacobs said that he and his late wife Joan, who died in May 2024 at age 91, “always believed in the power of science to make a difference.”
“With this endowment, I hope to ensure that the Nat continues to lead the way in understanding and protecting the incredible biodiversity of our region,” he said. “This is about investing in the future of scientific discovery and research.”
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