I REFER to Mr Jaya Kumar Narayanan's letter on Tuesday, 'Museum needs more space, better access' and would like to thank him for his positive comments on the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research at the National University of Singapore.

Held on May 24, the recent International Museum Day organised by the National Heritage Board provided the museum with a rare opportunity to share our extensive research collection of flora and fauna with the public. The response was overwhelming - the museum hosted some 3,000 visitors that day. This was a record turnout in one day and the museum's staff and resources were stretched thin. We apologise for the inconvenience caused.

The university recognises that the museum serves as a valuable resource for biodiversity research and helps to generate interest among the public on important issues of ecology, conservation and the environment we live in. To give the museum the opportunity to expand, there are plans for a new building that could house the museum, together with other teaching and research laboratories at the Faculty of Science. We hope to address the issues of accessibility and space in the near future, so more people can enjoy and appreciate Singapore's rich natural heritage at the museum.

Professor Peter Ng
Director, Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research
National University of Singapore

This article was first published in The Straits Times.