Max Barclay
Max is the Collections Manager of Coleoptera (beetles) and Hemiptera (true bugs) at the Natural History Museum, where he and his team are responsible for more than 20,000 drawers of specimens. Among the largest, oldest and most type-rich in the world, the collection is also among the most active, continuously growing and consulted each year by hundreds of scientists from very many countries. Max is a frequent public speaker, one of the ‘faces’ of the NHM’s new Darwin Centre, and a key contributor to the recent BBC TV series ‘Museum of Life’. He believes that it is crucial for major collections to become more accessible, both physically and virtually, to encourage a next generation of collectors and taxonomists. Max seeks every opportunity to develop and improve the collections that he serves, through acquisitions (from single specimens to vast collections), fieldwork, and continuous contact with the international entomological community. He is firmly convinced that he has the best job in the world, and is fortunate enough to have a family that understands his enthusiasm.