Jan Beccaloni

Jan Beccaloni is the Senior Curator of Chelicerata, Myriapoda, Tardigrada, and Onychophora at the Natural History Museum in London, where she manages a staggering collection of nearly three million specimens. With an academic background spanning a B.A. from The Open University, an M.A. in Museum Studies from UCL, and a Diploma in Ecology and Conservation from Birkbeck College, she possesses a unique blend of taxonomic expertise and archival precision. Her work focuses on enhancing global access to vital biological records through large-scale digitization and specimen-level databasing, specifically targeting pseudoscorpion slides, pycnogonid types, and Opiliones. Beyond the laboratory, Beccaloni is a passionate science communicator, engaging the public through events like Nature Live and Night Safari, while also providing specialized training in spider morphology and behavior. Her role is pivotal in bridging the gap between historical collections and modern research, collaborating with international institutions and UK arachnid societies to ensure these diverse lineages are preserved and understood.