The science of biodiversity often involves handling thousands of species and even more specimens, plus the data derived from them.
Information technology comes to the rescue through the use of barcoding and imaging specimens.
Barcodes mean that you can keep track of every specimen and species with ease. Digital images mean that you quickly build a virtual collection. Research at the Key Centre for Biodiversity and Bioresources at Macquarie University has shown that digital images are of such high quality that even extremely difficult specimens can be identified by experts using the internet. The Key Centre has developed a biodiversity information technology and management package called BioTrack and offers training sessions in its assemblage and use. Other interested organizations include local government, business and schools.