Exhibition in Forum | Centre for Genetic Resources (CGN) 40 years

The exhibition celebrates 40 years of the Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands (CGN), by exploring the history, importance, and preservation of genetic diversity. Through a carefully curated selection of books, prints, archival documents, and other historical materials from the Library's Special Collections, the exhibition places CGN’s work in a broader scientific and historical context.

The objects on display illustrate the foundations of modern genetic resources research, from early ideas about evolution and heredity to the documentation and classification of plant varieties, livestock breeds, trees, and aquatic species. Historical field records, breed illustrations, variety lists, and scientific publications reveal how biodiversity has been observed, recorded, and preserved over time.

The exhibition highlights the close relationship between the curators in Special Collections and the researchers at CGN. It demonstrates how conservation and preservation, core activities shared by both CGN and Special Collections, play a crucial role in safeguarding our natural and academic heritage. Through historical books, archives, illustrations, and scientific records, visitors gain insight into the importance of preserving biodiversity and the knowledge that helps us understand and protect it.