Gift of science: Fairchild gets $4 million for tropical research
Some visitors to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden like to wander among the blooming orchids. Others choose to attend the International Mango Festival or listen to the classical music concerts.
Yet hidden beyond the garden’s towering palms and cycads advancements in science are taking root.
And now they can flourish even more.
Fairchild said it has received a $4 million gift from scientist James A. Kushlan to create the Kushlan Tropical Science Institute — the latest piece of $24 million Fairchild has raised in science funding in less than two years.
“We will have an institute that will allow a terrific community of tropical scientists to have a place to get together and do tropical research,” said Bruce Greer, chairman of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s board of trustees. “And equally as important, those scientists are going to give children an opportunity to study science and stay in Miami.”
The gift comes less than two months before Fairchild will unveil its new DiMare Science Village, which opens Nov. 30 in Coral Gables. Its aim is to create a top venue for Fairchild’s scientific research, conservation science projects, and undergraduate and graduate science education programs.
