Friday 1 April 2011

End of Natural Science At Derby Museum

This is the text of a letter I have recently sent to the Derby Telegraph:


Natural Science Cut at the Museum


I am dismayed at the news that Nick Moyes, former Keeper of Natural History at Derby Museum has had his post deleted. I was Nick’s senior colleague in a two-person natural history section at the museum from 1985 until I retired in 2006. Following my retirement, I was very sad that my former post wasn’t re-instated (the salary, since increased, being used to fund a purely administrative post), leaving Nick on his own to deal with a vast subject embracing both biology and geology. Now the natural science section has been removed completely! I gather, however, that three archaeologists will remain in post.


Natural science in the Museum was of supreme importance, not only in putting human history in context but in portraying ecological and environmental problems, of which we have many in Derby and the surrounding region! It is vital that young people are informed of these, as well as them gaining the great enjoyment which comes from engaging in the natural world. Nick and I were very much into ‘outreach’ providing talks and activities and special exhibitions - not to mention the award-winning Derbyshire Nature Gallery.

Without any natural science specialist at the museum it will be a severely depleted and narrow service. I also worry that the natural history collections which need specialist knowledge for their care and documentation will now be at risk.


On top of this the Museum has now lost one its most talented and enthusiastic curators in its entire history. Back in the 1980s he was the first person to get to grips with computers when they were introduced to the Museum. Since then, he has developed his computer skills to an extremely high level, especially in his development of the Derbyshire biological records data-bank and Flora project, both of which have already proved to be of immense benefit in wildlife conservation.

Nick also played a huge part in devising the geology section of the Nature Gallery and, indeed, he has an immense knowledge of geology. Outside the Museum, Nick was a prime mover behind The Sanctuary bird reserve at Pride Park and, of course, the Peregrine Project at the Cathedral, which involved him abseiling down the tower to erect the nesting platform and cameras and setting up and managing the web-site. The latter is regarded as one of the best ‘nest-cams’ in the world! This project would not exist were it not for Nick’s innovative approach to museum outreach. Derby Museum ’s name is now bandied about across the globe via the web cams and blog and several people from a number of different countries have come to see both the peregrines and the museum as a result.


Nick really has had a raw deal with and his extraordinary talents and commitment not recognised by those who make the decisions. He was a great asset to both to the museum service and to the wider City Council. We can only wish him the best of luck in finding further work to suit his considerable abilities and knowledge.


All in all, the decision to abolish the natural history section is lamentable and short-sighted. Perhaps, though, in looking at the City Council’s poor record in environmental matters, it fits in very well with its ethos!

No comments: