Biodiversity

Biodiversity and its connection to the evolution of mankind is crucial. It is our "storehouse of potential cures and treatments" (6); it is essential to our survival. As I've learned from the Hall of biodiversity in the Museum, biologically diverse ecosystems are some of nature's most precious, as they house multiple kinds of unique species of flora and fauna together in one at least somewhat condensed area. Then again, it is also interesting to think about what nature's "most precious"areas are and what the most pressing issues face science today. The Museum's relationship with this advancement in science is crucial - not only because the world ought to know about biodiversity and how extinct much life is becoming, but because the displaying of such information allows the Museum to move forward as an entity, becoming more advanced in scientific opinion and displaying that to the public.

It is difficult for me to remove myself from the framework of "why" and the Museum's role in the subject. I should say here I agree with the article - especially the idea that "habitat loss is especially severe in areas where population pressures, poverty...leave people with little choice but to adopt overly intensive resource use practices" (11). As Kristen said, this is as much a problem with nature as it is with policy-making. As such, and as stated previously, the world ought to know - interest should be raised in the subject, and it should not be something just "on view" at the museum but an important way of the thinking about the planet. It may be the Museum's responsibility, then, to help popular culture move toward that way of thinking.