Over 13,000 Vertebrate Specimens Digitized in Groundbreaking oVert Project

The openVertebrate initiative, funded by the National Science Foundation, enhances access to natural history specimens for research and education.

The openVertebrate (oVert) project, funded by the National Science Foundation and other grants, has digitized over 13,000 vertebrate specimens, creating a massive online database accessible to researchers, educators, students, and the public.
This groundbreaking initiative involved collaboration across 25 institutions, taking six years to complete, and aims to enhance scientific discovery by making natural history specimens more accessible.
The oVert project has led to significant scientific insights, such as the discovery that Spinosaurus was likely a poor swimmer and that frogs have evolved to gain and lose teeth more than any other animal.
Beyond research, the 3D models have been used in educational settings, museum exhibits, and even virtual reality, demonstrating the project's wide-ranging impact.
Future developments in machine learning and supercomputing are expected to further unlock the potential of this digital treasure trove of natural history.