Featured Scientists To increase awareness of biodiversity, The Field Museum is dedicating this school year as “The Year of Biodiversity and Conservation.” From September 2003 through May 2004, you can learn about some of the most provocative and pressing scientific concerns of our times. Climate change, water conservation, genetic diversity—each month, we tackle a different topic as we investigate issues that involve us all. As part of our Year of Biodiversity and Conservation, we’re highlighting the work of Field Museum scientists who document biodiversity and design conservation strategies that protect some of the world’s most threatened ecosystems. Take a look below at biographies below of the men and women researchers featured in our Year of Biodiversity and Conservation advertisements: Dr. Jennifer McElwain—SEPTEMBER: Climate Change Dr. Chapurukha Kusimba—OCTOBER: African Biodiversity Dr. Kevin Feldheim—NOVEMBER: Genetic Biodiversity Dr. Steve Goodman—DECEMBER: Island Biodiversity Dr. Michael Dillon—JANUARY: Biodiversity in the Neotropics Dr. Rüdiger Bieler—FEBRUARY: Living Waters Dr. Jun Wen—MARCH: Asian Biodiversity Dr. Paul Goldstein—APRIL: Biodiversity in Your Backyard Dr. Shannon Hackett—MAY: Tree of Life Introduction | Investigate Biodiversity | YBC | Meet the Scientist | Explore Global Diversity | Events and Programs | Take Action! | Teaching Biodiversity | Biodiversity Exhibition | Credits Recording and counting the variety of species is crucial because we can’t monitor and protect what we don’t know. —Rüdiger Bieler, Ph.D. Head and Curator, Invertebrates The Field Museum