Collections and research

The extensive collections of the the Bavarian State Collections of Natural History (SNSB) are research and evidence collections in which biological and geological diversity and its change in space and time have been and are described and documented. With the anthropological and paleoanatomical collections, the collections are also responsible for the protection of archaeological heritage from Bavaria, this is a unique feature of the SNSB.

Ininstitutionally, the SNSB have a responsibility to preserve and expand these collections, to process them scientifically, and to keep them accessible for current and future research.

Why collections matter:

Where do we feel changes?

Why collections matter

Everyone talks about climate change – the biological response to climate change is visible in large collections.

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Evolutionary research

Why collections matter

Life on Earth is changing constantly – collections help to reveal and understand the changes.

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Discovering new species

Why collections matter

So far, only about 10% of all multicellular living organisms on Earth have been discovered – new species can only be reliably recognized by comparison with already known species.

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Detecting environmental impacts

Why collections matter

Many species are very sensitive to the smallest environmental changes. Collections help to identify them correctly and thus take the necessary measures.

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Education and training

Why collections matter

Collections promote a more conscious way of dealing with nature. We inform, educate, exchange and network worldwide.

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Health of animals and humans

Why collections matter

The Bavarian State Collection of Anthropology Munich (SAM)10,000 years of history of health Research [...]

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Research for agriculture

Why collections matter

Increasingly, new, as yet unknown, pests come to us – collections help to determine them quickly – and might save crops.

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Forensics & Collections

Why collections matter

Nature leaves its mark everywhere – even at crime scenes. Collections help to read them.

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Nature protection

Why collections matter

We can only protect what we know – we explore the diversity of life.

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