In a recent Birmingham Perspective article, Dr Richard Butler reflects on the importance of natural history museums, and anticipates that the reopening of the Lapworth Museum of Geology will allow generations to discover the magic of the natural world.
"I have an eight-month-old daughter. Like so many of her generation, she will grow up in a large city, in a world in which our lives are increasingly lived online and ever more disconnected from nature, yet continually drawing more and more resources from it.
"It will be her generation more than any other that will face the realities of man-made climate change and biodiversity loss. I worry about this, and want her and others of her generation to discover a sense of wonder and joy in the natural world, and realize why it is worth protecting.
"For me, this is just one reason why natural history museums are so important."...