I deeply enjoy using my scientific expertise for exhibit development, educational, and environmental programs. It is very important to me that knowledge can be placed into the service of others. The collections I help to build and maintain have been gathered by numerous scientists and amateurs before me and will serve long after new researchers and new research techniques will come along. Due to our worldwide loan traffic I am in constant contact with researchers in many other countries. This provides me with a very stimulating interaction across political and cultural barriers.
All monographic work describing species forms the basis for conservation.
We can't protect when we don't know what we have. For example, my work on African and Asian fishing spiders described all known species in detail so that they can be correctly identified. Also, species new to science are described. Any conservation effort must be based on a clear understanding of species diversity and species richness of a particular place. I use my knowledge on spiders and millipedes to participate in ecological studies conducted by the Field Museum's Environmental and Conservation Program.