Museums play a vital role in education, research, and public service. They help universities fulfill their missions not just locally, but worldwide. A recent paper from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences highlights an urgent need for better natural history and archaeology collections in low and middle-income countries. This study involved several institutions, including the University of New Mexico’s Museum of Southwestern Biology.
The authors stress that stronger collection infrastructure is crucial for preserving important scientific specimens and data. This development also empowers local scientists to build their own research communities. For over 30 years, the Museum of Southwestern Biology has collaborated with Mongolia to enhance its scientific landscape, focusing on how environmental changes affect both nature and culture.
Mongolia’s scientists face challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Strengthening their scientific infrastructure can help preserve vital specimens and train the next generation of researchers. “Museums serve as educational hubs, documenting biodiversity and establishing baseline knowledge,” said Joseph Cook, a curator at the Museum of Southwestern Biology. He believes that improvements in museum capacity and training are becoming increasingly crucial as new technologies reveal insights from historical records.
Research collections can bridge gaps often found in traditional science education, which is essential for nurturing future environmental scientists. Jon Dunnum, a senior collection manager at the museum, pointed out the significant impact collections-based experiences have on students. Alumni from the museum have gone on to hold influential positions in top universities and museums across the country. Investing in museum infrastructure shows clear benefits.
However, without local museums to house specimens and conduct research, scientists struggle to tackle critical issues like climate change and emerging diseases. William Taylor, a curator at the University of Colorado, shared concerns about Mongolia’s natural and cultural collections often being sent abroad for research. This limits opportunities for local scientists and their communities to engage with these resources.
To improve research facilities in under-resourced countries, it’s essential to build local capacity. This includes involving community members in fieldwork and mentoring the next generation of scientists. The paper notes that the practice of sending specimens to developed countries perpetuates colonialism and stifles local research initiatives.
Bazartseren Boldgiv, a coauthor of the study and a professor in Mongolia, emphasized that scientific collections are key to understanding our natural and cultural heritage. By investing in local expertise, we can also address global problems while respecting local voices in the scientific community. The paper encourages international projects to focus on building local infrastructure and capacity as we tackle the pressing challenges our planet faces.
