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computers in the natural sciences, and advances in molecular biology make it both possible and imperative to apply molecular characteristics to the study of systematic relationships of organisms and their evolutionary patterns. In response, the Museum is undertaking to establish its own molecular laboratory as well as cooperative arrangements with molecular biologists at neighboring research institutions. The result should be a major improvement in the quality of research which will be of great importance as the Museum tries to meet its major challenge, the crisis of extinction -- a crisis of global proportions. To these ends the Museum has also initiated its "Biological Diversity in Tropical Latin America" program under which, in cooperation with biologists in the host countries, the Museum has established biosphere reserves in Bolivia and Peru. Under these arrangements, the Museum's staff have been conducting field research which is site-specific( as contrasted with the more traditional taxon-orientation) and provided workshop training for Bolivian and Peruvian scientists who will be brought to Washington for additional museum training. While it is anticipated that the Museum will build upon these models for additional research sites throughout Latin America, the Museum is also beginning to look into establishing similar reserves in Southeast Asia.

[[underlined]] SMITHSONIAN EXTERNAL RELATIONS: DR. THOMAS LOVEJOY'S VIEWS [[/underlined]]

Dr. Thomas Lovejoy, formerly Executive Vice President at the World Wildlife Fund  in Washington, recently assumed the new position of Assistant Secretary for External Affairs at the Smithsonian. At the Secretary's suggestion, he spoke briefly about his perspectives upon coming to this new assignment. 

As the Institution's Assistant Secretary for External Affairs Dr. Lovejoy is charged with thinking comprehensively and addressing systematically the varied constituencies of the Smithsonian. Beyond his most immediate tasks of supervising membership and development activities, Dr. Lovejoy aspires to create an internal council of external affairs which would attempt to treat Smithsonian relations with its various constituencies in a more coordinated and forceful manner. He also hopes to link the Institution more effectively to other constituencies, such as Washington's highly influential and intellectual ambassadorial community as well as the communities from which the Institution has representatives on the National Board of the Smithsonian Associates. In addition, Dr. Lovejoy intends to investigate the prospect of a major capital campaign, for which he forsees ultimate success, and will be looking into the possibility of taking advantage of recently developed strategies for augmenting funds for Smithsonian activities abroad through blocked currencies and the conversion of public and private debt overseas. In connection with these latter responsibilities Dr. Lovejoy is particularly keen to contribute to the Institution's traditional pursuit of cultural and biological conservation.

[[underlined]] REPORT ON MUSEUM DEACCESSIONS DURING 1987 [[/underlined]]

A report on Smithsonian deaccessioning in  1987 listed a total of 4,191 transactions over the course of the last year from six museums, the National Zoo, and the Smithsonian Libraries.