The development histories of the major natural science collections under the current administration of the Estonian University of Life Sciences are diverse. The first group consists of teaching collections that originated in connection with the provision of education in agriculture, veterinary medicine, and forestry. The second group comprises collections that came under the university’s administration during the reform of Estonian research institutions.
The balance between teaching and research activities associated with these collections varies, and there is no sharp division between them; all are linked to degree programs. At the bachelor level, the soil museum is most prominent, serving as the basis for several courses (covering topics such as Estonian soils and various chapters from the basic and general soil science curricula) as well as for Zoomeedicum, which participates in the training of veterinarians. Classic museum-type collections include the Lake Museum located at the Võrtsjärv Limnology Centre and Zoomeedicum. Other collections also contain sufficiently attractive material that deserves to be exhibited online.
On June 29, 2005, the EMÜ Council adopted a regulation which, among other points, stated that a plan for the development of natural and agricultural science collections should be devised. As a result, an interdisciplinary unit named “Loodusteaduslikud kogud” was established. Its statutes were approved by the university council on November 29, 2007, and the unit began its activities in 2008. The objective of the unit is to ensure the preservation, organization, and enhancement of all the university’s natural science collections, as well as to create databases for these collections and make them accessible to researchers. The plan for the development of the collections was approved by the university council on May 26, 2008.
Link avaneb uuel vahelehel Herbarium of the Estonian University of Life Sciences
The vascular plant and bryophyte herbarium (TAA) at the Estonian University of Life Sciences' Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is Estonia’s second-largest botanical collection.
Link avaneb uuel vahelehel Entomological Collection
The insect collection was built over 50+ years through faunistic and biosystematic research by many entomologists and includes several deposited private collections.
Link avaneb uuel vahelehel Polli Variety Collection
The Polli Horticultural Research Centre conducts scientific research in fruit growing, including cultivar breeding, cultivation technologies, plant protection, and organic farming.
Link avaneb uuel vahelehel Hydrobiological Collections
The hydrobiological collection contains samples, photographs, and data from aquatic ecosystems and is used for research, environmental monitoring, and assessing the ecological status of water bodies.
Link avaneb uuel vahelehel Estonian Inland Waters
The Estonian University of Life Sciences maintains a photo collection of lakes and rivers that supports long-term change studies, research, environmental monitoring, and nature conservation.
Link avaneb uuel vahelehel Mycological Collection of the Estonian University of Life Sciences
The collection (fungarium) preserves fungi in two ways, primarily as dried fruiting bodies stored in collection cabinets.
Link avaneb uuel vahelehel Soil Museum
The Soil Museum brings together information on soil properties, development, and distribution to support research and education and to promote sustainable use of natural resources.
