Mark Brown, Professor of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology and the new Director of the Museum of Zoology, is leading research at Cambridge into the reasons behind the decline of pollinators. His work is complemented by Professor Beverley Glover, Director of the Botanic Garden, whose research explores the diversity of flowers and the features that support pollinator health.

This comes at a crucial time: “What happens to pollinators could have huge knock-on effects for humanity,” says Professor Lynn Dicks from the Department of Zoology. “These small creatures play central roles in the world’s ecosystems, including many that humans and other animals rely on for nutrition. If they go, we may be in serious trouble.”

Alongside Mark’s work, Beverley’s research is helping to show how flowering plants can actively support pollinators, including traits invisible to the human eye that encourage bees to visit flowers, feed safely and stay healthy.

So how is Mark addressing this issue at Cambridge?

Mark is keen for future exhibitions to directly link to current research being done at the Museum, the Botanic Garden and the wider University. He will also reinforce the invitation to people from all over the world to utilise the Museum’s collections for their research and work.

For Mark, access and education are essential. “We want to interrogate our collections, and work together with the communities who collected them, and from whose lands they were collected. I want to remove all barriers to access and encourage people who’ve never been to a university museum before to visit. We want to make our collections accessible to all, and welcome people from all parts of society.”