Dustin Wolkis is the manager of the seed bank and laboratory at the National Tropical Botanical Garden on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. The bank stores millions of seeds of plants that are threatened by invasive species and hungry animals. Thanks to the bank, if a plant population becomes too small, scientists can grow stored seeds to save it. We spoke with Wolkis about his work.
Q: How did you get interested in plants?
A: After high school, I got a job in a store specializing in plant-based medicines. I learned so much and decided to go back to school to study biology. I loved studying plants outside. I never looked back.
Q: Why is it important to have a seed bank?
A: Hawaii has half of the nation’s endangered plant species. Many species here are found on one island and nowhere else in the world.
Q: How do you collect seeds for the seed bank?
A: I fly to remote places in a helicopter. Or I hike for a whole day. In some locations, scientists rappel off cliffs on a rope to collect seeds.
Q: What do you love most about your job?
A: For a long time I didn’t know there were jobs where I could camp and hike as part of my work. It’s great.