# Bavarian Natural History Collections

> facility in Munich, Germany

**Wikidata**: [Q2324459](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2324459)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bavarian-natural-history-collections

## Summary
The Bavarian Natural History Collections (SNSB) are a research institute and educational facility located in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. Established in 1827, the organization operates under the Bavarian Ministry of Culture and serves as a major entity for zoological systematics and natural history research. The SNSB comprises several institutions, including the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology, and is an active member of the Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** Bavarian Natural History Collections (Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns), commonly abbreviated as SNSB.
- **Inception:** Founded in 1827.
- **Location:** Headquarters are located in the Neuhausen-Nymphenburg district of Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
- **Operator:** Bavarian Ministry of Culture.
- **Classification:** recognized as a research institute, educational institution, middle authority, and facility.
- **Leadership:** Gerhard Haszprunar served as Director General from 2016 to 2021.
- **Key Subsidiary:** The Bavarian State Collection of Zoology is a constituent organization.
- **Memberships:** Member of the Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities (CETF), German National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI), and Informationsdienst Wissenschaft (idw).
- **Website:** https://www.snsb.de

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Bavarian Natural History Collections (SNSB)?
A: The SNSB is a research institute and facility in Munich, Germany, dedicated to natural history. It functions as a middle authority under the Bavarian Ministry of Culture.

### Q: When was the Bavarian Natural History Collections founded?
A: The organization was established in 1827.

### Q: Where is the organization located?
A: The headquarters are situated in the Neuhausen-Nymphenburg district of Munich, Bavaria.

### Q: Who oversees the Bavarian Natural History Collections?
A: The facility is operated by the Bavarian Ministry of Culture.

## Why It Matters
The Bavarian Natural History Collections (SNSB) serves as a central infrastructure for natural science research and education in Germany. As a middle authority under the Bavarian Ministry of Culture, it plays a critical role in the preservation and study of natural history, notably through its subsidiaries like the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology, which dates back to the 18th century.

The organization is significant in the global scientific community due to its active participation in high-level research networks. It is a member of the Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities (CETAF) and contributes to the German National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI), facilitating the standardization and accessibility of scientific data. By integrating historical collections with modern research initiatives, the SNSB supports taxonomy, systematics, and biodiversity conservation.

## Notable For
- **Historical Legacy:** Established in 1827, representing nearly two centuries of scientific accumulation.
- **Research Infrastructure:** Acts as a "middle authority" and research institute, bridging government administration and scientific inquiry.
- **European Collaboration:** A recognized member of the Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities (CETAF).
- **Data Stewardship:** A participant in the German National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) and the German Federation for Biological Data (GFBio).
- **Comprehensive Holdings:** Includes the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology, a major institution for zoological systematics founded in 1807.

## Body

### Identity and Mission
The Bavarian Natural History Collections (German: *Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns*, abbreviated SNSB) is a research institute and educational organization classified as a facility and middle authority. It is located in Germany and operates specifically within the state of Bavaria. The primary purpose of the organization is research, and it is recognized formally as an "organization whose primary purpose is research."

### History and Governance
The SNSB was founded in **1827**. It is operated by the **Bavarian Ministry of Culture**. The organization's administrative headquarters are located in **Neuhausen-Nymphenburg, Munich**.
Recent leadership includes **Gerhard Haszprunar**, who held the position of Director General (classified as "director/manager") starting in 2016, with his tenure noted as ending in 2021.

### Structure and Subsidiaries
The SNSB functions as an umbrella organization for various scientific collections. A prominent subsidiary is the **Bavarian State Collection of Zoology** (German: *Staatliche Zoologische Sammlungen München*). This specific institution is a German research institution focused on zoological systematics and has a distinct history, with inception dates recorded as 1807 and 1759.

### Affiliations and Networks
The SNSB is integrated into the broader scientific landscape through several key memberships:
*   **Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities (CETAF):** A member organization.
*   **Informationsdienst Wissenschaft (idw):** A member as of records dating to 2019.
*   **German National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI):** A current member.
*   **German Federation for Biological Data e.V. (GFBio):** A member since April 18, 2018.

### Technical Identifiers
The organization is indexed in multiple scientific and library databases:
*   **GRID ID:** grid.452781.d
*   **ROR ID:** 05th1v540
*   **ISNI:** 0000000122036205
*   **GND ID:** 2001684-0
*   **VIAF ID:** 168453151
*   **Ringgold ID:** 39040
*   **Library of Congress Authority ID:** nb2005007142

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-05-22
2. [Source](https://idw-online.de/de/institution1697)
3. [Source](https://cetaf.org/members/cetaf-members)
4. [Source](https://www.nfdi.de/verein/#mitglieder)
5. [Source](https://www.gfbio-ev.de/de/verein/)
6. ROR release v1.19
7. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
8. GERiT