The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University aims to achieve excellence in scholarship and contribute to the advancement of society as an international center for the study of plants. It focuses on integrating living and archival collections for discovery and dissemination of knowledge to Harvard University students, local educational institutions, and the public. Its mission also includes enhancing the understanding and appreciation of plants, horticulture, and biodiversity.
The Arnold Arboretum Genomics Initiative and Sequencing Award aims to support the development of genomic resources for temperate woody plant taxa within the Arboretum's living collections, which are among the most thoroughly documented in the world. This initiative is a part of the Living Collections Campaign to create the first genomic type collection of plants, serving as a resource for research in comparative genomics, developmental biology, whole plant physiology, phylogenetics, and plant responses to the environment. It offers up to $10,000 to support de novo sequencing, analysis, and data sharing of key members of its living collections, focusing on certain Core Genera and preferred species, though proposals for other taxa are also encouraged. This funding is aimed at enriching the Arboretum's collection and making it available for broader scientific research, rather than serving as salary support for researchers.