Behind the Scenes at the Smithsonian, Meet the Curators

The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History houses over 144 million objects, with 99% behind the scenes. Experts like Carla Dove, Bob Robbins, Ellen Strong, Jeff Post, and Floyd Shockley manage collections of birds, butterflies, mollusks, minerals, and insects. These collections aid in scientific research, aviation safety, and understanding biodiversity and climate change.

What percentage of the bird diversity in the world is represented in the Smithsonian's Division of Birds?

• 50%

• 85%

• 70%

• 95%

What is the primary focus of Bob Robbins' work at the museum?

• Understanding butterflies

• Collecting bird specimens

• Researching minerals

• Studying mollusks

Approximately how many mollusk specimens does Ellen Strong estimate are in the museum's collection?

• 10 million

• 15 million

• 20 million

• 25 million

How many minerals are known to make up the Earth, according to Jeff Post?

• 6000

• 3000

• 4000

• 5000

What fraction of all insect life on Earth is represented in the museum's collection?

• One fourth

• One third

• One half

• Two thirds