The GEMS Museum stands as a testament to the extraordinary lives and enduring legacy of Marina Gerardi and Edgar Garcia, renowned explorers deeply entrenched in the Venezuelan expeditionary community. This institution serves as a repository for the extensive data collected during their numerous expeditions between 1974 and 2007. Following their passing, a resolute commitment to preserving the couple's invaluable scientific contributions inspired the creation of the GEMS Museum in 2024. 

The museum's centerpiece is the comprehensive scientific data amassed by García, which represents a cornerstone in our understanding of the world's scorpion fauna. One of the most significant expeditions was the ascent of Mount Roraima in 1974, which began on November 26 and concluded on December 13. This groundbreaking journey resulted in the collection of 208 scorpion specimens, leading to a remarkable discovery: 11 new species, one of these species, initially classified as Broteochactas Gaciai (Gonzalez-Sponga, 1978) and later renamed Neochactas garciai (Soleglad & Fet, 2003), was named in honor of García's pioneering work.

The expedition's impact extended far beyond the discovery of new species. As a result, description are made for three new genus of the Chactidae family: Taurepania, Vachoniochactas and Auyantepuia. The genus Hadrurochactas of the same family is ratified and redescribed. Eight new species: Taurepania vestigialis, Vachoniochactas lasallei; Broteochactas bilbaoi, efreni, leoneli, garciai and santanai; Broteas libinallyi and dasilvai are described. Three new combinations are established: Taurepania porosus (Pocock), 1900, Hadrurochactas schaumi (Karsch), 1880 and Auyantepuia scorzai (Dagert), 1957. A redescription is made for Taurepania porosus, Hadrurochactas schaumi, Auyantepuia scorzai and Broteochactas orinocensis an all the genera from the Chactidae family in Venezuela. A key is given for all the genera of the Chactidae family in Venezuela, the subgenera of Chactas, the species of Taurepania, Broteochactas and Broteas genus. The Chactopsis genus and the following three species of the Buthidae family are reported for the State of Bolívar: Tityus clathratus, T.androcottoides, and Rhopalurus laticauda. A new distribution for Ananteris venezuelensis is given. The Vachon (1973) tricobotriotaxia is applied for the description of the different categories and they are illustrated with diagrams, photographs and graphics. The geography of the State of Bolívar (its east region) is studied briefly. Maps given the distribution of all the categories of the Chactidae family are also included. It is presented new information about the tricobotriotaxia of the Chactidae family.

As a tribute to this historic expedition and its participants, a metal plaque lie on the summit of Roraima, bearing the names of the team members and the date of the ascent.

A fortuitous alliance with members of the team has significantly expanded the museum’s holdings.  This extraordinary contribution encompasses over 50 years of invaluable field data, expanding our collection to include more than 578 newly described zoological species, and over 119 scientific papers. Now we are gearing up to reorganize, digitize, and rehouse a vast repository of specimens of ophidians, arachnids, myriapods, and other zoological groups, accompanied by comprehensive documentation.

The GEMS Museum is more than a collection; it is a catalyst for innovation. Aiming to fuel innovation Our "Synergy Hall", a knowledge transfer hub, embodies the spirit of collaboration fostering an environment where scientists from diverse backgrounds can access our collection, share papers, ask and answer questions, generate innovative ideas and find collaborators.Initially conceived as a digital repository, the museum has rapidly evolved into a dynamic hub for scientific research, we are privileged to collaborate with a global network of researchers, sharing our invaluable data to propel groundbreaking discoveries, some of our areas of interest include:

 Drug Discovery:

• Pain Management: Some venom components can block pain signals, leading to potential new analgesics.

• Cancer Treatment: Certain compounds in scorpion venom have shown promise in targeting and killing cancer cells.

• Antimicrobial Properties: Some venoms contain substances that can kill bacteria, including drug-resistant strains.

• Neurological Disorders: Venom components can interact with ion channels, making them potential treatments for conditions like epilepsy or Parkinson's disease.

Understanding Biology:

• Evolutionary Insights: Studying venom composition helps understand how species adapt to their environment.

• Protein Structure and Function: Venom components offer unique models for studying protein structure and function.

• Neurobiology: Venom's effects on the nervous system provide insights into how our own nervous system works.

Technological Applications:

• Biosensors: Venom components can be used to develop highly sensitive biosensors for detecting various substances.

• Materials Science: Venom peptides can inspire the design of new materials with specific properties.

Beyond the realm of academia, the museum envisions a future where its gems are accessible to all. We aspire to make this invaluable resource accessible to everyone – from students and artists to policymakers and business leaders, as part of our future plans.

True to the spirit of collaboration that defined Marina and Edgar, the GEMS Museum maintains an open-access policy, making its entire collection available for scientific research. If you would you like to learn more about a specific area of scorpion research or for information on how to access both our physical and digital collection please contact us.