By Denise Balkissoon
Bob Anderson wants to name a bug after you.
Anderson, a researcher at the Canadian Museum of Nature, says his area is taxonomy — the naming of new or unnamed species. He’s trying to set up a donations program that would reward contributors by letting them name an unnamed Canadian species.
Anderson’s idea will help raise money as well as educate the public about taxonomy. Donors who contribute $100 or more would get a bug to name.
“Generally, it would be named after the person,” Anderson says. “If they want to have it named after someone else, that would be fine. The only rule is that the name has to be ‘latin-ized.’ And it has to be in good taste.”
Naming a new species is generally left up to the discovering scientists themselves. Anderson is hoping to get researchers from museums throughout Canada to participate in this project.
He says new types of fundraising are needed because the old ones aren’t enough any more.
Funding for this type of research generally comes from private grants. The museum also receives an appropriation from the federal government, but Anderson says that gets used up paying rent and other basic costs. He also says there aren’t a lot of grant agencies that specifically support taxonomy.
“The natural sciences, particularly taxonomy, have been seeming to take a back seat these days,” he says.
Anderson calls taxonomy the language of biology.
“All of the information we know about a species is tied on to the name,” he says. “It’s like a coat rack on which we hang all of the information.”
Michelle Mackenzie a researcher in the mites division at Agriculture Canada, has a positive response to Anderson’s plan.
“It’s a good idea — most of the people around here just name it after their kids,” she laughs.
“It would really only work for entomology (the study of insects) — most animals have already been named, but with insects, less than half the species are even known. It would probably do a good deal to raise people’s awareness.”
A few weeks ago, Anderson presented his idea to the museum’s management committee.
The committee is now in the process of deciding what the e museums involvement will be. It is coming up with a development plan and ideas for advertising.
Anderson says committee members were enthusiastic. “One of the first things they asked was ‘can we get this ready for Christmas?,’” he says.
But, the project requires more development before it can be launched, so it likely won’t be up-and-running for the holidays. Anderson says he hopes the public will be responsive.
“Traditionally, having a species named after them has been reserved for elite,” like scientists or wealthy patrons who finance entire expeditions, he says.
“We want to open it up and say, ‘if you’re willing to support us, we’re willing to name a species after you.’ It may turn out to be a pest that ravages wildlife, but we hope they’ll be willing to contribute anyway.”