Future-proofing the Anthropocene using museomics - Koalas, cockatoos, and dark data
Some biologists estimate that up to 35% of animals and plants could become extinct in the wild by 2050 due to global climate change. This alarming reality highlights the urgent need for innovative solutions to understand and conserve biodiversity. Fortunately, a hidden tool lies within the walls of natural history museums – vast collections of biological specimens. These collections are not just a static record of the past, but rather a trove of data waiting to be unlocked.
The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) houses the world's largest collection of biological specimens. These collections hold a wealth of information about past ecosystems and can offer crucial insights into how species have adapted and changed over time. However, much of this data remains inaccessible, locked away as "dark data."
At the NMNH, we are committed to unlocking this hidden potential. By utilizing new technologies, we are transforming museum collections into powerful tools for conservation. I will give some examples from wildlife genomics, from cockatoos to koalas, which explore the rich source of data in museum collections and how it can be translated into actionable conservation information.