Maximilian Pink completed his Master's degree in Biodiversity and Collection Management at the International Institute (IHI) Zittau at TU Dresden in 2021.

“The special focus on taxonomy was a game changer for me.” Taxonomy experts are usually found in museums, says the 29-year-old. “But they are at risk of dying out.” They divide organisms (animals, plants, fungi, etc.) into groups based on species, genera and families, and must possess a great deal of knowledge about the individual organisms.

He didn’t end up becoming a taxonomist after all. Today, he is working as a Research Associate, working on method development in insect monitoring. At his Institute for Biological Control, he is also responsible for the transfer of knowledge to society. One of the challenges he is faced with is breaking down complex phenomena in a way that is accessible to the public. The network of experts that were integrated into his studies in Zittau, the required reading and the experience he got under his belt help him every day in his professional life.

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