At the annual meeting of the German Society for Biological Systematics (GfBS), held in Hamburg from May 29 to June 1, Dr. Regine Jahn and Professor Dr. Susanne Renner were awarded honorary membership. This distinction honours two scientists who have made outstanding contributions to biological systematics, both nationally and internationally, through their commitment to the GfBS and through major research initiatives. With Susanne Renner, the GfBS honours a botanist whose work has had a significant impact on plant systematics and the study of plant evolution. Her research has repeatedly highlighted plant-animal interactions. As Director of the Munich-Nymphenburg Botanical Garden and the Munich State Botanical Collection, she has also played a key role in communicating systematic botany to a broader public. As she was unable to attend the meeting in person, the formal ceremony in her honour will be held at a later date. With Regine Jahn, the GfBS recognizes a scientist whose work has fundamentally shaped the systematics, diversity, and phylogeny of diatoms (Bacillariophyta). Based at the Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Museum, she played a key role in shaping the GfBS from its foundation onward, serving on the board in various capacities for over a decade. Our Society is proud to welcome two such distinguished scientists as honorary members.
Registration is open: 26th Conference of our Society of Biological Systematics (GfBS) 2025
in Hamburg, Germany, at the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB).
29 May - 1 June 2025
Keynote speakers are Elizabeth Joyce (Munich), Nancy Mercado Salas (Hamburg) and Jonas Zimmermann (Berlin)
Conference-dinner on St. Pauli (included in conference fee)
Application details: Bernhard Rensch Prize (pdf) -> please scroll down to the second page!
New second vice president and new speaker of the curators group
The participants of the most recent general meeting of our Society elected a new second vice president. PD Dr. Ekin Tilic, Curator of Marine Invertebrates and Head of the Marine Evertebrates II Section at the Senckenberg Research Institute and Nature Museum in Frankfurt and lecturer at the University of Bonn, was elected unanimously during the online meeting on 28 June 2024. All other candidates for the Executive Committee were confirmed in their positions in the list election. Dr. Julia A. Schultz thus moves up from second to first vice president of the GfBS; the previous first vice president, Prof. Dr. Heike Wägele, did not run again. Dr. Daniela Matenaar, curator of the invertebrate collection at the Hessian State Museum in Darmstadt, has been confirmed as the first spokesperson of the GfBS curators' working group, a position she had temporarily taken over from Dr. Martin Husemann at the end of February during the GfBS annual conference in Bonn. Dr. Husemann is now Scientific Director of the State Museum of Natural History in Karlsruhe.
Invitation to Member Assembly
All members have been invited by our managing director, Prof. Dr. Andreas Schmidt-Rhaesa, to join our extraordinary member assembly and board election on Friday, 28th June, 2:00 h p.m. In case you haven’t received his e-mail, please contact him directly.
Newsletter: Deadline upcoming issue
Editorial deadline for the next issue of the 43rd GfBS Newsletter is 28th February 2023.
Please send your German texts about
current developments
events
book reviews etc.
as well as requests, wishes and suggestions directly via e-mail to our editor Prof. Dr. Ralph Schill.
Our Conference took place from March 27th to 31st 2023. The Programme (pdf) summarizes the various topics. Keynote lectures were presented by:
Botany: Mika Bendiksby (Oslo, Norway): The potential of fungarium specimens and DNA barcodes in fungal research
Palaeontology Fridgeir Grimsson (Vienna, Austria): The history of European Paleogene flower-insect interactions unraveled using fossil flowers and insects and their associated pollen grains
Zoology Museomics: Christine Ewers-Saucedo (Kiel, Germany): The reconstruction of anthropogenic change
Biodiversity: Martin Irestedt (Stockholm, Sweden): The potential of museum collections for studies of biological processes in the era of genomics
Our Bernhard Rensch Award for an outstanding scientific work was given to Kevin Karbstein (Göttingen University) for his thesis Untying Gordian knots: The evolution and biogeography of the large European apomictic polyploid Ranunculus auricomus plant complex. The best three oral presentations of our meeting were awarded as well.
The conference was organized by Prof. Dr. Angelika Brandt together with Prof. Michael Hiller PhD, Prof. Dr. Steffen Pauls, Dr. Christian Printzen, and Prof. Dr. Dieter Uhl (all Senckenberg Frankfurt).
Mitgliederversammlung
Die Einladung zur kommenden online-Versammlung unserer Mitglieder am 31. März 2023 von 14:00 bis 15:00 Uhr hat unser Geschäftsführer am 21. Februar versandt. Zusammen mit dem Zugangslink bittet er um zahlreiche Teilnahme.
Tagesordnung
Feststellung der Tagesordnung
Bericht des Präsidenten und Aussprache
Bericht des Geschäftsführers
Berichte der Beisitzer
Berichte des Schatzmeisters und der Rechnungsprüfer sowie Aussprache
Entlastung des Vorstandes
Verschiedenes
Bernhard Rensch Prize - Call to be awarded in 2023
Call is open: 30th September to (extendet to) 20th November 2022
We stand for peace, equal opportunities, and free expression of opinion. We condemn the war waged against the people in Ukraine.
Member Assemby elects new Board
During the 23rd annual meeting of our GfBS, the attendees elected a new executive Board according to schedule on Mrch 24th, 2022. President Prof. Dr. Thomas Bartolomaeus (Bonn) and his deputy, Prof. Dr. Heike Wägele (Bonn) were confirmed in office. Dr Julia Schultz (Bonn) was newly elected to the office of Deputy President. She took over the post from Dr. Dominique Zimmermann (Vienna), who had made the office available after 10 years on the Board. She will remain on the Board as an Associate member for NOBIS representing Austria. The Managing Director, Prof. Dr. Andreas Schmidt-Rhaesa (Hamburg), who had held this position on an interim basis, was also confirmed in office.
New additions to the Board are Prof. Dr. Alexandra Müllner-Riehl (Leipzig) as Associate Member for Botany and Prof. Dr. Marc Gottschling (Munich) as Associate Member for Algae and Protists. The General Assembly also decided on the office of an assessor for the Bernhard Rensch Award, to which Dr Cathrin Pfaff (Vienna) was elected. Treasurer Dr. Alexander Kieneke (Wilhelmshaven) and Editor Prof. Dr. Ralph Schill (Stuttgart) were re-elected, as were all other members of the Executive Committee.
Registration is open for our upcoming conference that will take place virtually from 21st to 24th March 2022 and will be organized by Peter Michalik, Gabriele Uhl and Michael Schmitt (all University of Greifswald).
The upcoming conference will take place virtually from 21st to 24th March 2022 and will be organized by Peter Michalik, Gabriele Uhl and Michael Schmitt (all University of Greifswald).
Details will be available soon at our website.
New acting managing director in office
Seit dem 22. Juni 2021 hat Prof. Dr. Andreas Schmidt-Rhaesa (Hamburg) kommissarisch das Amt des Geschäftsführers von der bisherigen Inhaberin, Dr. Cathrin Pfaff (Wien), übernommen. Der Kurator für Wirbellose Tiere am Zoologischen Museum Hamburg, das zum Leibniz-Institut für die Analyse des Biodiversitätswandels gehört, erledigt unter anderem die laufenden Geschäfte, betreut die Mitgliederlisten, empfängt Änderungen der Instituts- oder E-Mail-Adressen der Mitglieder und fertigt Protokolle an. Cathrin Pfaff übergab die Geschäftsführung im Einvernehmen mit dem Vorstand, da sie aus persönlichen Gründen diese Tätigkeit vorübergehend nicht in der ihr gewohnten Gewissenhaftigkeit nachkommen kann und daher in der Übergabe der Aufgaben an Schmidt-Rhaesa eine sinnvolle Lösung für die Gesellschaft sah. Der Gesamtvorstand bedankt sich herzlich bei Cathrin Pfaff für ihre bisherige Arbeit und wünscht ihr alles Gute. Der Vorstand freut sich auf das Zusammenwirken mit Andreas Schmidt-Rhaesa. Cathrin Pfaff wird weiterhin als Organisatorin des Rensch-Preises im erweiterten Vorstand mitwirken.
Nationales Monitoringzentrum Biodiversität
Das Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und nukleare Sicherheit (BMU) hat ein Grobkonzept für die Errichtung eines nationalen Monitoring-Zentrums für Biodiversität vorgelegt (www.bmu.de/download/grobkonzept-fuer-das-nationale-monitoringzentrum-zur-biodiversitaet/) zu dem unsere GfBS Stellung genommen hat. Die Kommentierung von GfBS-Präsident Prof. Dr. Thomas Bartolomaeus, apl. Prof. Dr. Birgit Gemeinholzer und Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Wägele ging dem BMU zu und wird im kommenden Newsletter der GfBS (Nummer 38) veröffentlicht werden.
Jobs
Technische Mitarbeit (m/w/d)
Lepidopteren Sammlung
Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart (SMNS), Stuttgart, Deutschland
for evolutionary biologists, taxonomists, systematists, ecologists, curators, museum and collection managers, coordinators and organismic researchers.
Contact to the editorial office: stellen @ gfbs-home.de
Events / dates
Invitation to Member Assembly
All members have been invited today by our managing director, Prof. Dr. Andreas Schmidt-Rhaesa, to join our member assembly on 1st June 2025 at 11:30 a.m following our annual GfBS Conference at Hamurg, Germany. In case you haven’t received his e-mail containing the agenda, please contact him directly.
Extraordinary Online General Meeting
The GfBS Board invites members to an online vote on the newly proposed honorary memberships. The meeting will take place on March 21, 2025, at 2:00 pm. On February 20, the acting managing director has sent an e-mail to all members containing the access link and details about the two proposed candidates. In case you have not received this e-mail, please contact Professor Dr Andreas Schmidt-Rhaesa. The Executive Board looks forward to your participation!
GfBS-Newsletter: Deadline upcoming issue
Editorial deadline for the next issue of the 44th GfBS Newsletter is 28th September 2024.
Please send your German texts about
current developments
events
book reviews etc.
as well as requests, wishes and suggestions directly via e-mail to our editor Prof. Dr. Ralph Schill.
GfBS Annual Conference: Travel Grants 2024
Our annual GfBS conference is especially suited for early career scientists, since it has a very familiar atmosphere. They are therefore encouraged to participate in the conference organized by Prof. Thomas Bartolomaeus in Bonn, Germany, 26th to 29th of February. Registration deadline is 20th February 2024. Students with an own contribution to the conference can apply for additional traveling funds. Please send your application after your registration to Dr. Fabian Deister: deister(at)snsb.de
Registration is open
25thAnnual conference of our Society of Biological Systematics (GfBS) 2024
Editorial deadline for the next issue of the 42nd GfBS Newsletter is 28th April 2023.
Please send your German texts about
current developments
events
book reviews etc.
as well as requests, wishes and suggestions directly via e-mail to our editor Prof. Dr. Ralph Schill.
New Bank Account
Starting with May 23rd, 2022, our GfBS has new IBAN and BIC numbers. Please use the new data solely from now on. The new data came along with a fusion ot two banks. Details were provided in the e-mail, our second president, Prof. Dr. Heike Wägele sent to you on May 20th. It is also communicated in the upcoming GfBS Newsletter.
Einladung
Unsere kommende Mitgliederversammlung findet im Anschluss an die online-GfBS-Tagung, am Donnerstag den 24. März 2022 um 14 Uhr statt.
Newsletter: Termin kommende Ausgabe
Deadline für die nächste Ausgabe des GfBS-Newsletters ist verschoben auf den 18. Februar 2022.
Bitte schicken Sie Ihre Texte über
aktuelle Entwicklungen
Veranstaltungen
Buchbesprechungen u.v.a.m.
sowie Wünsche und Anregungen direkt per E-Mail an unseren Schriftleiter, Prof. Dr. Ralph Schill.
23rd Annual Meeting
The upcoming conference will take place virtually from 21st to 24th March 2022 and will be organized by Peter Michalik, Gabriele Uhl and Michael Schmitt (all University of Greifswald).
Details will be available soon at our website.
Our Newsletter
GfBS Newsletter 44
Sorry, in German only
Neu Nr. 44: Einladung zu unserer GfBS-Jahrestagung im Mai in Hamburg. Neues Lernkonzept zur taxonomischen Expertise, baumbewohnende Gastrotrichen, Tiefseewürmer, Biodiversitätsforschung unter Wasser in Indonesien, neues Ecuadorianisch-Deutsches integratives Biodiversitäts-Forschungszentrum (EGiB), Zwergmännchen in der Tiefsee-Seepocke, unbekannte Wasserzwerge direkt vor unserer Haustür, höchste internationale Auszeichnung für Angelika Brandt, neuer Raubdinosaurier mit markanter „Augenbraue“. Buchrezensionen über die Kulturgeschichte der Krebse, Flora von Burkina Faso und Mali sowie das stille der Sterben der Natur – oder wie wir die Artenvielfalt retten. zur Übersicht
GfBS Newsletter 43
Sorry, most in German only
Neu Nr. 43: Rückblick auf die Jahrestagung und die ausgezeichneten Beiträge in Bonn, Mitteilungen des Schatzmeisters, Laudatio auf den Preisträger des Bernhard Rensch Preises, kollaboratives Lernkonzept über Biodiversität, Expedition in die limno-terrestrische Meiofauna Südfrankreichs, die Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance (SOSA) für marine Invertebraten, Artzahl der Priapswürmer auf 22 gestiegen, Artgrenzen und Hybridisierungsmuster zweier Schlangenarten, Masterstudiengang Organismic and Molecular Biodiversity in Dresden, neuer Blattschwanzgecko in Madagaskar und neue Glasfroschart in Peru entdeckt, Sigmund-Freud-Preis 2023 der Deutschen Akademie für Sprache und Dichtung an Matthias Glaubrecht, Pilzwelt aus München über bayerische Grenzen hinweg zugänglich, Blatt- und Schildlaussammlung des Theodor Hartig, GfBS unterstützt TAXON-OMICS Foto Wettbewerb, Grand Blue Project führt mit 5.500 Videoclips durch die Unterwasserwelt Indonesiens, LakeExplorer Plattform zum Bestimmen von Arten. Buchrezensionen über Meiobenthos, Wespen, aquatische Pflanzen und marine Dino flagellaten. zur Übersicht
GfBS Newsletter 42
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Neu Nr. 42: Dinosaurier aus Norddeutschland - Inselzwerge und ihre Innenohren. Wie quantitative Morphologie den Diversitätsverlust von Netz füglern messbar macht. Molekulare Archäologie: Wie 1.200 Jahre alte DNA-Sequenzen zur Entdeckung ausgerotteter Landschildkröten führten. AGNES – African-German Network of Excellence in Science. Neue Fischart evolvierte in absoluter Dunkelheit. Pseudopoda oder: wie groß kann eine Gattung werden? Das FörTax-Datenportal ist online. DigiTiB - digitales Lernwerkzeug für die Vermittlung von Artenkenntnis. Mehr als 400 Millionen Jahre alte Medianaugen spiegeln den phylogenetischen Entwicklungsstand ihrer Besitzer wider. „Wirksamer Meeresschutz braucht mehr Wissen über Arten“ - neuer Senckenberg Policy Brief. In Memoriam Ehrenmitglied Erich Thenius. Rezensionen neuer Bücher über Mykologie, Entomologie und Ernst Haeckel. zur Übersicht
GfBS Newsletter 41
Sorry, in German only
Neu Nr. 41: Einladung zur Jahrestagung 2023, Ergebnis des Fotowettbewerbes, Neue Arten und Gattungen: fossile Gänse, Reisratten, riesige Meeressaurier. Geschichte der Arten: Geckos, Koboldmakis und Riesenschildkröten. Tatort Pflanzenfalle. Dornenkronenseesterne. Weltweit größte Foraminiferen. Was Wasserinsekten vor 245 Millionen Jahren fraßen. Jubiläum: 250 Jahre Entdeckung der Bärtierchen. Europäisches Forschungskonsortium Biodiversity Genomics Europe. Neue Bücher und Buchrezensionen. zur Übersicht
GfBS Newsletter 40
Sorry, mainly in German
Neu Nr. 40: Über die 23. GfBS-Jahrestagung, ausgezeichnete Studierenden-Beiträge sowie Rensch-Preis-Arbeit: integrative systematics of Solenogastres. Erstes Mikrofossil ist Fossil des Jahres. Über Worte: Benennung, Bedeutung, Bewertung. Provenienzforschung an Naturkundemuseen. Abschluss des German Federation for Biological Data Projektes. Das neue Leibniz-Institut zur Analyse des Biodiversitätswandels. Studien zur Biodiversität im Aleutengraben. Tiefsee- Forschung: Fauna im Nordwest-Atlantik. Neuer Polychaet im Südpolarmeer. Alge des Jahres droht zu verschwinden, bevor kuriose Lebensweise erforscht ist. Weltweit kleinste Landschnecke entdeckt. Die Somso® Sonne. Neue Bücher und Buchrezensionen. zur Übersicht
GfBS Newsletter 39
Sorry, mainly in German
Neu Nr. 39: Expedition: Tiervielfalt aus der Tiefsee, Original-Linné-Pflanze im Herbarium entdeckt, Become involved in SPNHC’s Biodiversity Committee, Klettverschluss im Mund alter Haie, ein neuer alter Pfeilschwanzkrebs, Festgelage für Raubsaurier, das German Nagoya-Protocol HuB, Pflanzenwelt Neukaledoniens, der Popa Langur Myanmars, neon-grüner Fluoreszenz-Mechanismus beim Wüstengecko, Bauchbrüten bei Reisfischen, neue Reisratten-Gattung, neue Salamander aus Ecuador, Resümee zur online-Tagung der GfBS, außerordentliche Mitgliederversammlung, Vorteile eines online-Bezuges unserer ODE-Zeitschrift. zur Übersicht
Frühere Ausgaben
Sorry, in German only
Zu allen früheren Ausgaben des GfBS Newsletters zurück bis zum ersten Newsletter im Jahr 1998.
Ressources
Handbook on natural history collections management
A collaborative Swiss perspective
Written by and for persons curating, preparing or managing natural history collections, this handbook intends to make existing knowledge easily available and transferable. It gathers specific actions relevant for the conservation of natural history objects, the coordinated digitisation of associated data and the development of a modern digital infrastructure. This handbook should facilitate the long-term utilisation of Swiss natural history collections data for science and society.
The Company Transmitting Science manages specialized courses and workshops related to Life Sciences in Barcelona (Spain), Crete (Greece), Buenos Aires (Argentina) and online.
20% Ermäßigung für GfBS Mitglieder / 20% GfBS discount!
(in German: Gesellschaft für Biologische Systematik, GfBS)
The objectives of our professional Society for Biological Systematics consisting of roughly 500 members in the German speaking area are to study biodiversity and to advance systematics, taxonomy, evolution and phylogeny.
The Society supports young scientists (f.e. endows the Bernhard Rensch Prize) in the areas of training and continuing education among others. It promotes discussions within and between the scientific disciplines involved and organizes conferences.
Working groups for young scientists (JuSys) and for collection experts (curators) are established under the auspices of the society.
In the journal, Organisms, Diversity & Evolution (ODE), the Society publishes scientific results relating to organismal diversity and systematics, taxonomy, evolution and phylogeny.
The Society's Newsletter and the Tools & Tips Section on this website support its members in their daily research work.
