Wild Collections: Specimens, Stories and Science from CSIRO

Did dinosaurs get bitten by mosquitoes? Can honey bees become botanists? Why would anyone collect worm bums? And can we find DNA in the air?

Wild Collections explores some of the fascinating, strange and unique stories behind more than 15 million specimens cared for within CSIRO’s National Research Collections Australia. More than just pinned insects and pressed plants, these are stories of scientific discovery and cutting-edge research. This book offers us a rare glimpse into the world-class collections and the wonders they contain.

Go behind the scenes to discover species lost, found and saved, and the evolving knowledge and techniques it takes to record and understand our unique biodiversity. And meet some of the amazing scientists using this knowledge to protect and conserve our natural world.

Features:

• Go behind the scenes to explore CSIRO’s natural history collections, which are not only fascinating and unique, but also rarely open to the public.
• A treasure trove for science buffs and anyone who values our natural world.
• With Foreword from Dr. Doug Hilton AO, Chief Executive, CSIRO.

Andrea Wild is a science communicator with CSIRO’s National Research Collections Australia, and the author of AmAZed! CSIRO’s A to Z of Biodiversity. She has two sons, one who loves nature and one who loves experiments.

Dr. Doug Hilton is the Chief Executive, CSIRO.