Courtenay Smithers of the Australian Museum was well known for his program in which volunteers tagged butterflies that were then recaptured by contributors in NSW, South Australia and Victoria, who sent back specimens and data on the insects’ movements. Many people from non-science backgrounds found themselves engaged in the biology and ecology of insects.

Smithers maintained that a strong connection between the public and museum scientists was important, both for obtaining useful information and for the public to have a better understanding of the role of a natural history museum. pp. 120 Illustrated #0417