Following hard work and collaboration between the University of Texas at the Research Center on the Diversity of Amphibians and Reptiles of Arlington (Ardrc) and Joseph Rex Dinardo Jr. Herpetology and Natural History Science Research Trust in Philadelphia , thousands of elements of literature have been given to the National Institute of Biodiversity (Inabio) in Quito, EcuadorTo help him launch his renovated education and research program for biodiversity.
Joseph Rex Dinardo Jr. Trust Recently donated thousands of rare books and other scientific literature linked to amphibians and reptiles to the ArdrcBy making one of the largest herpetology research libraries in the world. Due to its close affiliation to the Ardrc, the Dinardo Jr. Trust asked for the help of researchers from the UTA to find a home for the rest of its natural history literature which did not concern herpetology.
“We knew that this literature could have an important impact on education and research in the good scientific institution, since it has resolved such an extent of biodiversity and subjects,” said Greg Pandelis, director of collections and organic conservative for Ardrc. “Given our close relationship and our collaboration spent with Inabio, we have proposed the idea that literature is given there.”
Inbound Quickly became one of the main entities for research and education on biodiversity in South America, developing recently with a new building to house its public exhibitions and updated research facilities, including a genomic laboratory Pointe. Inabio researchers expressed a strong desire to acquire and house a research library in the context of this expansion, which would serve both their researchers and the public. However, the logistical obstacle in the transport of literature in such a distant country was not small.
“The Ardrc was able to obtain a grant from the American agency for international development To fully finance the transfer of this donation to Inabio, “said Pandelis. “From there, we used the help of dozens of volunteers at UTA to pack and sort the equipment during a year before finally shipping it via Ocean Freight in Ecuador. They have received the materials and are indexing the massive donation in their new installations. »»
Pandelis stressed that the facilitation of this donation cements the fruitful and under UTA collaborations with Inabio and the Dinardo Jr. Trust. Inabio has agreed to name both his library and a new species of reptile or amphibians in the future in recognition of Joseph Dinardo Jr. and his commitment to life towards erpetology.
“For the National Biodiversity Institute of Ecuador, he was an absolute privilege of having been a beneficiary of the Dinardo Jr. Trust, thanks to the close collaboration of our colleagues from the University of Texas in Arlington,” said Mario H. Yánez-Muñoz, associate researcher at Inabio. “Thanks to this support, Inabio received an incredible donation of 8,570 pounds, 2,000 magazines and 500 review articles. This collaboration allowed us to build an impressive bibliographic collection, with a strong accent on vertebrates. This gift will undoubtedly support the information needs of specialists, students and enthusiasts in the natural sciences of South America. »»
“Uncle Joe organized with love this collection over 50 years, and his dying wish was to share it with those who would appreciate it the most, promoting their understanding of herpetology and natural sciences,” said the niece of Dinardo Jr., Constantina Lavonne Lambrou-Marino. “My family and I are deeply grateful to Greg Pandelis, Mario Yánez-Muñoz and their teams for having executed this monumental process. Nicknamed “Lizard Man” in Vietnam, uncle Joe particularly loved South America, and we are so happy that his heritage will allow Inabio. »»
About the University of Texas in Arlington (UTA)
Located in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Texas University in Arlington is a complete establishment of teaching, research and public service dedicated to the progress of knowledge through scholarships and creative work. With an inscription of about 41,000 students,, UT Arlington is the second largest institution of UT system. The combination of UTA of exceptional academics and innovative research contributes to its designation as a very high carnegie R-1 institution “of research activity”, an important stage of excellence. The university is designated as a Hispanic serving-institution and a Extended institution of the American Pacific Pacific American by the United States Ministry of Education and won the Seal Excellencia For its commitment to accelerate the success of Latin students. University ranks in the top five at the national level for veterans and their families (Military time2024), is n ° 4 in Texas to advance social mobility (US News & World Report2025), and is n ° 6 in the United States for its undergraduate ethnic diversity (US News & World Reportt2025). About 270,000 former students from UT Arlington occupy management positions in many fortune companies 500 whose headquarters are in northern Texas and contributes to the annual economic impact of 28.8 billion dollars of the university on Texas.