MASTERS Member of the week: Bouchra Filali

Bouchra Filali, MASTERS Member and Manager Partnerships at Naturalis is pleased that visitors can experience the natural world firsthand again. The museum's doors closed temporarily due to corona, and researchers were partly unable to continue their work. Yet according to Bouchra, it was a time to focus on essentials […]

Bouchra Filali, MASTERS Member and Manager Partnerships Naturalis is pleased that visitors can again see the wonderful world of nature with their own eyes. Due to corona, the museum's doors had to close temporarily and the researchers were partly unable to carry out their work. Yet, according to Bouchra, it was a time to get to the heart of the matter and there are great plans ahead. The MASTERS Member shares her findings with us.Text: Fleur de Jong

The museum is open again, what has changed last year?

''The most important thing is that we are a research institute. Of course, research always continues. But the real limitation lay with our public function, because we could not receive visitors. The researchers and collection managers, like the rest of the Netherlands, were only allowed to go to the office, lab or collection depot for necessary work. They were fortunate that they could work from home a lot. Only the lab work of the researchers was barely possible. The work behind the scenes, which people often know little about, could therefore partly continue.

The museum had to close completely. We mainly focused on online. For example, we had weekly online programs where visitors to our YouTube channel received a presentation or lectures from our researchers. Visitors could ask questions in real time during these sessions. When we were open, we gave those live sessions in the museum and we noticed that there was a great need for this."

What plans lie ahead?

“For the first time in history, Naturalis has everything under one roof: new presentations, scientific research with state-of-the-art facilities and the national natural history collection. A unique park outside - a green oasis next to the beautiful new building - completes the experience. In the biodiversity garden we shine the spotlight on insects, birds, worms, bats, amphibians and other life, including in the soil and in the water. The park allows visitors to experience how important the natural environment is to us. And they gain inspiration to make their own garden or balcony, the area around their company or the sports field more 'biodiverse'.”

Why a biodiversity garden?

“It's time travel in the open air. In the biodiversity garden you will discover step by step which life forms have conquered the earth during evolution and you will experience how they are connected to each other. The plants attract all kinds of insects and birds. Among the greenery you will also discover plants that you can eat or that Naturalis is conducting special research into. You see and experience for yourself that evolution has led to an enormous diversity of life; in the past, now and in the future, provided we continue to take good care of it together.

How is the biodiversity garden realized?

Friends for Biodiversity: ''To achieve this, I would like to recruit partners, such as companies or private individuals who, like us, want to promote biodiversity. We want to put the garden into use in 2023, and I want to use this year and next year to raise the money through collaborations, sponsorships and donations. So all forms of collaboration. I really want to focus on the content, because 'flat sponsors' no longer exist, the content has to be correct."

You have already been able to go on many wonderful expeditions, is there anything else planned this year?

''I would really like to go on an expedition next year. This year is no longer possible given the time of year. There are many young researchers who want to, but not all of them have been vaccinated yet. And by the time they are vaccinated, the expedition to the US will be closed. This means that we have to focus on 2022.”

What is your business advice?

“If you want to enter into collaborations, you notice that it really has to be about something and you have to focus on the content. It really lies in the collaboration, driven by the content. I think that last year in particular people have had the time to think carefully about what matters and what makes the difference.”Scagliolabrakkee | Neutelings Riedijk Architects

MASTERS League

A membership of the MASTERS League is a special privilege. This year there is room for a selected number of members and we will process registration on a first-come, first-served basis. The exclusive business club is part of MASTERS HQ and offers pleasant and special privileges, making networking one of your favorite activities. Do you think you fit the profile of a MASTERS Member? Mail:  Then send your application to Mical Joseph and maybe you can also call yourself a MASTERS Member in 2021!