20
be too late to encourage to continue to
uphold the Museum's international reputation
for the excellence of care of its collections
and the research which stems -from them. The
support and views of colleagues in other
institutions is being sought by the Museum's
staff.
Already a large group of researchers from the
Open University has sent an open letter to the
Director of the Museum and to the Guardian
about the proposed plans. In this they
emphasise the Museum's 'unique and unassailable
role as a dedicated centre of primary taxonomic
research'. They also point out that only 1
million of the 30 million living species have
been described taxonomically, and that many
unclassified organisms, such as some that
spread disease and agricultural pests, have an
important bearing on human health and
agriculture.'
Letters of concern should be sent to:-
Your local M.P.
The House of Commons,
London, SW1A OAA.
Rt. Hon. John MacGregor,
Minister of Education and Science,
Elizabeth House,
York Road,
London, SE1 7PH.