http://www.nhm.ac.uk/wonders/wonders.html (Einblicke ins Internet, 10/1995)
Welcome to the Natural History Museum in London UK. Here is a chance to take a quick look behind the beautiful architectural facade and the world famous public exhibitions to see what goes on behind the scenes.
These collections are at the heart of the Museum's research where we seek to increase our understanding of the natural world by naming each organism and mineral, organising them into groups and studying the relationships between them.
Our research can provide invaluable contributions to agriculture, fisheries, forestry and conservation by identifying pests and weeds and helping to find ways to control them.
We help Customs and Excise by identifying illegally imported goods such as rare and endangered species. We support the work of the police, by examining forensic evidence such as identifying the remains of scavenging insects to help indicate the time of death of a murder victim.
It is vitally important that the specimens in the collections are looked after and stored correctly so that they are preserved in the best possible condition. Over 100 curators look after the collections on a daily basis. They face a vast challenge looking after fish pickled in spirit, plants pressed between sheets of paper, insects pinned on boards, and animal skins in drawers to name but a few.
Biodiversity is the study of the variety of life on earth. So far about 1.4 million species have been recorded but this may be less than 10% of the actual total in the world.
People draw enormous benefits from many of these plants and animals for food, raw materials, energy sources and pharmaceuticals.
With so many environments under threat from human activity, it is increasingly important that new species are discovered, documented and saved before they are lost for ever.
One example of this work in the Museum is Flora Mesoamericana. This botanical guide describes over 18,000 plant species found in tropical central America, 5% of which are new to science.
The identification, dating and analysis of rocks, minerals and fossils by the Museum is very important for industries such as engineering, mining and those extracting fossil fuels. For example this research is used to provide vital clues about where new deposits of oil or other valuable mineral resources might be found.
Museum scientists also carry out research on meteorites. Almost all of the material that falls to earth from space arrives as tiny dust particles. These micro-meteorites stay in the atmosphere for months or years before they finally settle on earth. Studying them can give clues about atmospheric processes, such as why the ozone layer is diminishing and if changes in the atmosphere can be attributed to human activity.
Parasites and pests affect millions of people and domestic animals the world over. Accurate identification of parasites, pests, and poisonous organisms is crucial for the proper treatment of individuals and effective control in the wider environment.
For example the Museum's DNA research is investigating the parasitic worms which cause the disease schistosomiasis, also called bilharzia which affects over 200 million people.
The Medical and Veterinary Division in the Department of Entomology annually runs a short course in July on the Identification of Insects and other Arthropods of Medical and Veterinary Importance. For further details please contact :
Dr. Martin Hall,
Head of Medical & Veterinary Division,
Dept. of Entomology,
The Natural History Museum,
Cromwell Road,
South Kensington,
LONDON,
SW7 5BD,
UK.
Tel: +44 (0) 171 938 9451
Fax: +44 (0) 171 938 9395
E-mail: M.Hall@nhm.ac.uk
In order to study how environments are changing due to human activity, a thorough knowledge of different species and where they are found is essential. We can provide accurate information on the distribution and abundance of plants and animals, past and present.
Museum scientists are actively involved in monitoring and protecting the environment, studying the effects of global warming, air, water and land pollution, ozone depletion, and habitat destruction.
Water from rivers is analysed for the amount and type of algae present to indicate how polluted it is while the distribution and lichen species found in different areas around Britain reveal the effects of acid rain and indicates air quality.
The Museum also carries out environmental impact assessments, for example, looking at the effects on local wildlife of laying gas pipelines across salt marshes and sandflats.
The Museum offers a wide range of consultancy services.