I am a Peruvian Ichthyologist. On the picture above I am measuring a fish specimen at the Museo de Historia Natural of San Marcos University in Lima, Peru. I spent most of my time as an undergraduate research student in this Museum learning to collect and identify fish. The fabulous world of animals and plants unveiled in front of me as I, as part of multidisciplinary teams, embarked in the most amazing adventure of my life: the study of biodiversity. Buses, helicopters, boats, bad food and leaking tents, nothing worst than walking with my rubber boots full of water, but at the end of the day, the catch and the excitement of learning and discovering pays all the pains and feeds the soul. Many species of fish, some known and some new to science and thus to human kind, and I was there to see them, touch them and study them in my little museum in Peru.

After completing the thesis requirement to obtain my diploma I still had questions about a certain group of armored catfishes, which I decided to study as part of my Master’s project. If those four brick walls could talk, they would tell you about days and nights spent there, learning from the specimens and books, my mentors, and my peers. These brick walls protect the patrimony of a country, and the world. Because these fish are part of our world, and we are here to share it with them.

Today I still study fish and although I am far away from my little museum, I work towards the dissemination of knowledge on the importance of Natural History Collections and their role to society. When you finish reading this, I would like you to go to the closest window or door and explore outside, you will see the richness of our planet that breaths and lives like you and me. Your boots won’t necessary get full of water but I am sure that after doing that you will have a big smile on your face.