Face of the LIB: Alexander Haas

What connects you to nature?

Nature means a lot to me. As a 16-year-old, I leased a plot of land with my mate at the time and tried my hand at "natural gardening". I think that the living environment we have created for ourselves with buildings and roads overtaxes our biological capabilities. Going out into nature can bring balance and relaxation. For me, the feeling of happy contentment is often linked to experiences in nature. My favourite places are the deserts in the south-west of the USA and the ancient rainforests of the island of Borneo. For me, walking through a cool river or stream far away from civilisation in the sweaty rainforest and making small biological discoveries is an intense closeness to nature. It is a small and yet touching approach to our biological roots as hunter-gatherers. I hope that as many people as possible will continue to have the opportunity to experience nature in all its intensity - whether on our doorstep or in faraway places.

Which area of the LIB is particularly close to your heart?

The areas of research and collections. That's where I always wanted to be, that's where I feel I belong. My language is also spoken and understood by others there. The colleagues there are creative, productive, motivated and energising - really great!

What will people associate with the LIB in ten years' time?

They will hopefully recognise the LIB as a place of authentic information on species, species communities, habitats and the changing nature of biodiversity. We generate and interpret large amounts of original data at the LIB and our collections hold enormous amounts of future data that can be made accessible through research into the collection objects. One of our missions is then to bring this authentic knowledge to society. It will hopefully become apparent that the LIB is an important national and international hub in the network of many other institutions that cooperate and deal with the relationship between humans and nature in the broadest sense.

What is your favourite aspect of your day-to-day work?

The appearance of publications is a highlight for every scientist, even if you can't literally describe it as an everyday occurrence. There is often a lot of work and a chequered history behind a scientific publication. Its appearance often concludes a research question and sometimes directly opens up new ones. A publication is concrete, tangible and gives the satisfying feeling of having successfully worked on and completed something. Of course, all forms of expedition are great experiences. Conducting research in a habitat is a special challenge that remains in the memory for a long time due to the many impressions. My trips to Malaysia and Indonesia also gave me the opportunity to get to know the cultures there, both while working together on a project and beyond. I see that as a great privilege and a great enrichment.

How do you explain the term "biodiversity" so that children or people outside of research also understand it?

We are expected to explain science in an understandable way - whether to children or their grandparents. Biodiversity refers to a specific area in nature: "Which and how many different creatures live in this area?" is the question that biodiversity answers. If it is high in a lush forest, for example, there are more different creatures there than in a desolate city park, where the living conditions for animals and plants are worse.

What do you see as the biggest challenge in environmental protection?

The destruction of habitats and climate change. If the current biological richness of the earth is to be preserved, enormous efforts must be made. Unfortunately, I have witnessed many negative changes in our world during my lifetime: be it land consolidation in the agricultural area of my childhood, the sealing and urban sprawl of natural areas, the spread of deserts or the clearing of the rainforest that I saw in Asia. The list could go on and on...

What would you have become if biology hadn't worked out?

In my opinion, 3D programmes represent a rarely appreciated revolution in human development. It's amazing what generations of programmers have created. CAD software has revolutionised all manufacturing processes in industry. Huge branches of industry such as gaming and film are no longer conceivable without 3D software. I find that extremely fascinating! I can imagine that there are interesting careers in 3D for young people that I might also have enjoyed.

What advice would you give young biologists at the start of their career?

To follow their own passions, questions and interests consistently and emphatically. Not to be dissuaded. We are only prepared to put a lot of energy into topics that really interest us and that we are strongly self-motivated to pursue. Finding these topics and goals is important for later success. When I started studying, there was a glut of biologists and people tried to persuade us that biology was an unprofitable art. Ultimately, however, you can't make generalisations at any time because everyone's career path is highly individual. Students have to embark on this journey - this experiment.

About Prof. Dr Alexander Haas
He has been Head of the LIB Centre for Taxonomy and Morphology since 1 July 2021. Born in Heilbronn in 1964, Alexander Haas studied at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen. During his studies, he spent a year abroad at the University of California Berkeley. Back in Tübingen, he completed his studies in 1993 and his doctorate in 1995. Before completing his doctorate, he became a research assistant at the Chair of Special Zoology at Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, where he qualified as a professor in 2001. In 2003, he was appointed Professor of "Zoology/Special Zoology of Tetrapoda" at the University of Hamburg. He is known among experts for his morphological and phylogenetic studies on amphibians and his work on frogs and cauliflowers in Malaysia and Indonesia.