Natural History Collections and Evolution

Lecture by James Hanken, Professor of Biology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Curator in Herpetology; Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology; and Director, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University

Billions of plant and animal specimens are found in natural history collections around the world. The result of nearly 250 years of scientific investigation, discovery, and inventory of living and fossil organisms, these collections provide an irreplaceable record of the history and diversity of life on Earth and are fundamental to understanding its evolution. James Hanken will discuss the value of natural history collections to science and society—and why they are indispensable to contemporary studies of climate change and biological conservation.

The Evolution Matters Lecture Series is supported by a generous gift from Drs. Herman and Joan Suit.