Biodiverse BC: Natural History

Born of a desire to connect directly with the curators, collection managers, scientists and researchers whose work is the bedrock of museums, the Royal BC Museum's Community Engagement team is hosting a series of natural history discussions across the province. Hear from Royal BC Museum staff and valued partners as they discuss ongoing research, field work, and the value of collaboration.

Bridging, Braiding and Weaving; Indigenous Science & Western Approaches- Nanaimo Session 

Let's come together to engage in conversations on the current and future connections between Indigenous Science and Western approaches. We will hear from Snuneymuxw Elder Geraldine Manson, Royal BC Museum Curator of Entomology Joel Gibson, and Collection Manager of Invertebrates Hugh MacIntosh as they share their biodiverse stories, connect their research, collaborative practices, and knowledge of the land.

Dr’s MacIntosh and Gibson

Dr. Hugh MacIntosh is the collections manager for invertebrates at the Royal BC Museum, looking after a collection of 70,000 jars of spineless critters - sponges, worms, crabs and the like. Hugh is a taxonomist by training – someone who studies and identifies species. Hugh will highlight “Why Museum Collections are Important and Why it’s Critical that We Know the Names of Things” – despite taxonomy being overlooked and underappreciated.

Dr. Joel Gibson is the curator of the insect collection at the RBCM, and will be sharing his story and love for his work in his presentation on “ Insects, Plants, and the Galls they Share” from right here on Vancouver Island. Interesting life history and strange ecology are all a part of the research that goes on in the collections at the RBCM