Joel A. Bartsch holds responsibilities with the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) as CEO, managing an institution that delivers compelling, interactive exhibits that educate visitors of all ages. In 2019, Joel A. Bartsch guided the opening of the renovated George W. Strake Hall of Malacology.
The study of mollusks, malacology spans a surprisingly diverse range of 100,000 species, from those so tiny they are barely visible to giant squid that can be dozens of feet long. The more than 1,300 marine life and shell specimens on display at HMNS contain a striking variety of textures, colors, and patterns. They also exhibit a type of animal that is vital to ecosystem health, serving as food that many fish rely on for sustenance.
The comprehensive exhibit features unique pairings, such as the largest-ever recorded Australian trumpet next to an albino morph of the same species. Another exhibit places the Philippines’ black coral (partially polished) alongside an entirely natural black coral specimen from Peru. Together, these specimens reveal an ecosystem that is rapidly disappearing, as the effects of global warming, ocean rise, and damage from human activities have a major impact.
