Museums and Institutions, Role of

Natural history museums and related institutions are devoted to the exploration and study of the biological world, and through these efforts provide, with their vast collections, the primary record of life's history and diversity. Thus, their work is critical to our understanding of the richness of life and the magnitude of the impacts resulting from human activity and industrialization. The degree to which museums and like institutions are successful in their important mission of scientific research and education in the coming years will be pivotal in determining how effectively we deal with the great environmental challenges of the twenty-first century.