Former Busitema University Library Graduate Fellow Abubakari Ssemwogerere has authored a feature for the Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL) as part of its 20th Anniversary series celebrating important collections, people and stories that have contributed to the study of biodiversity.

Published on 11 August 2026, the article, “Pioneers of Illinois Natural History: Stephen A. Forbes and Charles Robertson,” explores the scientific legacies of two influential figures in Illinois natural history and the historical collections that continue to support biodiversity research today.

Abubakari previously served as a Graduate Fellow at Busitema University before joining the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he is currently a Graduate Assistant at the Funk ACES and Veterinary Medicine Libraries. He is also pursuing a Master of Science in Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois.

In the BHL feature, Abubakari traces the contributions of Stephen A. Forbes and Charles Robertson to the understanding of ecology, biodiversity and interactions between plants and insects. Forbes’ research covered areas including fishes, insects, birds and aquatic ecosystems, while Robertson spent decades documenting flowering plants and the insects that visited them.

The article also draws attention to the importance of preserving historical scientific records and making them accessible to researchers. Materials associated with Forbes and Robertson are among the collections made available through the Biodiversity Heritage Library, helping connect earlier scientific observations with present-day research.

The publication marks another milestone in Abubakari’s professional and academic journey after his time at Busitema University Library and reflects the opportunities former Graduate Fellows continue to pursue in librarianship, research and higher education internationally.

Readers can explore Abu Ssemwogerere’s full article, “Pioneers of Illinois Natural History: Stephen A. Forbes and Charles Robertson,” on the Biodiversity Heritage Library website.