Why collections matter

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

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

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.

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

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

The Bavarian State Collection of Anthropology Munich (SAM)10,000 years of history of health Research on the evolution of human health worldwide is made possible by studying human skeletons. Scientists from all over the world compare information on age, height, sex and illnesses recorded from skeletons originating from 10,000 year history of humankind,. Particular attention is […]

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

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

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