Systematics Association
{{Infobox organization
|name = The Systematics Association
|former name = Committee on Systematics in Relation to General Biology
|image = Systematics_Association_Logo.png
|size =
|caption =
|abbreviation = SystAss
|formation = May 3, 1937
|status = Registered charity 270429
|purpose = Systematics & Taxonomy
|location = United Kingdom
|membership =
|leader_title = President
|leader_name = David Williams
|main_organ =
|parent_organization =
|affiliations =
|budget =
|website = {{url|http://www.systass.org/}}
}}
The Systematics Association (SystAss for short) is a charitable organisation based in the UK founded in 1937 for the promotion of the study of systematics and taxonomy. It publishes research, organises conferences, and provides competitive research funds{{cite web|title=Funding opportunities|url=http://www.systass.org/awards/|work=Systematics Association|accessdate=10 November 2013}} for systematics research.
History
The society arose from informal meetings held between Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew & John Innes Horticultural Institute (Merton) staff, leading to the formation of a joint zoological and botanical "Committee on Systematics in Relation to General Biology" on May 3, 1937.{{cite journal |year=1937 |last=Huxley |first= J. |title=Association for the Study of Systematics in Relation to General Biology |journal=Nature |volume=140 |issue=3534 |doi=10.1038/140163b0 |page=163 |bibcode=1937Natur.140R.163. |doi-access=free }}
The council then changed the name of the organisation to its present form. The original founding council included: Julian Huxley (Chairman), Hampton Wildman Parker (Zoological Secretary), and J. S. L. Gilmour (Botanical Secretary).
Functions
It publishes book volumes on a variety of related topics in the Systematics Association Special Volume Series {{cite web|url=http://www.cambridge.org/gb/knowledge/series/series_display/item5692692/?site_locale=en_GB |title=Academic :: Cambridge University Press |publisher=Cambridge.org |date= |accessdate=2014-01-03}} and a newsletter for members called The Systematist.{{cite web|title=Newsletters of the Systematics Association|url=http://www.systass.org/newsletter/|work=Systematics Association|accessdate=10 November 2013}} An annual meeting especially for young researchers is usually held in the UK under its auspices as The Young Systematists' Forum.{{cite web|title=Young Systematists' Forum|url=http://systass.org/young-systematists-forum/|work=Systematics Association|accessdate=26 November 2018}}
Structure
Membership of the society is open to all by subscription.{{cite web|title=Membership of the Systematics Association|url=http://www.systass.org/membership/|work=Systematics Association|accessdate=10 November 2013}} The Association's affairs are managed by a Council consisting of officers and members elected at annual general meetings. The officers are a President, a Secretary, a Meetings Secretary, a Grants & Awards Secretary, a Membership Secretary, a Treasurer, the Editor in Chief, a Newsletter Editor, and a Webmaster.{{cite web|title=Officers & Council of the Systematics Association (2013)|url=http://www.systass.org/council/2013council.shtml|work=Systematics Association|accessdate=10 November 2013}}
See also
- American Society of Plant Taxonomists
- Gesellschaft für Biologische Systematik{{cite web|url=http://www.gfbs-home.de/ |title=» GfBS: Startseite - Gesellschaft für Biologische Systematik (GfBS) |publisher=Gfbs-home.de |date=2013-12-06 |accessdate=2014-01-03}}
- International Association for Plant Taxonomy
- The Linnean Society of London
- Society of Systematic Biologists
- Swiss Systematics Society{{cite web|url=http://www.swiss-systematics.ch/|title=Home|work=Swiss Systematics Society|accessdate=10 November 2013}}
- Willi Hennig Society
- Systematic and evolutionary biogeography association
Further reading
- {{cite book|editor-last=Hawksworth|editor-first=D.L.|title=Prospects in systematics|year=1988|publisher=Published for the Systematics Association by Clarendon Press|location=Oxford|isbn=9780198577072}}