About NHM&RC

Mission

To collect, preserve, research, interpret, and exhibit biological and geological specimens representing the natural heritage of Mizoram, promoting scientific understanding and environmental awareness.

Vision

To become a leading regional center for natural history research, education, and conservation, inspiring future generations to protect our planet's biodiversity.

The Natural History Museum & Research Center (NHMRC) was established as part of Mizoram University’s efforts to document and preserve the region’s biodiversity. It originated from the project titled “Mizoram Biodiversity Documentation and Establishment of a Natural History Museum of Mizoram,” sanctioned by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology (North Eastern Region – Biotechnology Programme Management Cell), with approval letter no. DBT-NER/AAB/64s/2017 dated 14.10.2019.

Conceptualized alongside the expansion of the university’s School of Life Sciences , the NHMRC serves as a dedicated repository for biological and geological specimens from Mizoram and Northeast India. Since its formal establishment through this funded initiative, the collections have grown substantially through extensive fieldwork, specimen preservation efforts, and institutional collaborations. The museum continues to develop its facilities, storage practices, and research infrastructure to support the scientific community, students, and public engagement in biodiversity conservation.

The NHMRC focused on enhancing scientific knowledge of Northeast India’s biodiversity hotspots through taxonomic work, biodiversity inventories and assessments, ecological studies, and conservation-oriented research. Drawing on the museum’s curated specimen collections, equipped laboratories, and data from extensive regional fieldwork, researchers explore the rich diversity of flora, fauna, and geological elements unique to Mizoram and surrounding areas.

Key research areas include:

• Flora: Macro-fungi (mycology), pteridophytes (ferns and fern allies), and allied botanical groups.
• Fauna: Amphibians, reptiles (herpetofauna), fishes, beetles (Coleoptera), moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera).
• Geology: Fossils and palaeontological specimens.

Through active collaborations with national and international organizations, the Research Centre facilitates high-impact publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, advancing the understanding of regional biodiversity. It also plays a vital role in promoting environmental education, advancing sustainable conservation practices, and providing hands-on training for students and early-career researchers. These efforts aim to build scientific capacity in the region and inspire long-term stewardship and appreciation of Northeast India’s irreplaceable natural heritage.