Interview with Pete Hollingsworth, Deputy Keeper and Director of Science at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
In this edition of Voices of Taxonomy, we speak with Pete Hollingsworth, Deputy Keeper and Director of Science at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, about the challenges facing natural history institutions and their vital role in responding to biodiversity loss, engaging society and encouraging practical action for nature.
Hollingsworth also reflects on the importance of institutional cooperation and the collective strength of networks such as CETAF in addressing shared environmental and organisational challenges. His insights are particularly timely as the CETAF community prepares to gather in Edinburgh in December for the 3rd CETAF Directors’ Summit and CETAF58.
What are the biggest challenges currently facing natural history museums and research institutions in Europe?
I think we all have a very clear mission: to respond to the enormous pressures on the natural environment while also meeting the needs of society. These organisations grew out of a desire to understand the natural world, and we are now facing a time when both our demands on it and the pressures it is under are very high. We have the collections and expertise needed to respond to those challenges, and we must ensure that we do so rapidly, carefully and effectively.
How can these institutions build stronger bridges between science and society, raising public awareness of challenges such as biodiversity loss and other threats to the natural world?
I think they have a very important role to play. In simple terms, we are major visitor attractions that bring together many millions of people from across Europe and around the world. This gives us a great opportunity to communicate scientific information clearly to a broad audience, always with a strong focus on the practical actions people can take to make a difference.
How important are collaboration and unity among institutions when responding to global risks such as funding volatility, populist pressure and even cyberattacks?
I think it is extremely important for organisations to work together. Any individual organisation is constrained by its size and the resources it has available. A network like CETAF harnesses the power of the collective and of working together. It also provides the essential ability to share experiences and learn from one another’s successes, as well as from situations in which individual organisations have encountered challenges. That collective response is so much more powerful than individual responses.
Speaking of CETAF, what do you think its priorities should be in the coming years?
I think our ultimate challenge—and our ultimate priority—is to make an impact in protecting nature at a time when the environment is under immense pressure, while also helping society to use nature sustainably. That is the overarching challenge for us all, and sharing our expertise and experience in addressing it is key.
“A network like CETAF harnesses the power of the collective and of working together”