The Young Systematists Working Group (AG Junge Systematiker, JuSys for short) is a self-organized group under the patronage of the Society for Biological Systematics (Gesellschaft für Biologische Systematik, GfBS). Its members are early-career systematists, taxonomists, and organismal biologists who are at the beginning of their scientific careers.
Our goal is to promote and support the networking and expertise of young researchers in taxonomy and systematics within the German-speaking community, regardless of the organism group they study. Key activities include regular meetings, member networking via a mailing list, workshops on current scientific topics, and knowledge exchange on subjects such as scientific presentations, funding programs, grant applications, and career paths outside academia.
The speakers are elected from within the JuSys group. The elected speaker is proposed as a JuSys representative to the GfBS board during the society’s annual meeting and can be elected to the board for a two-year term at the GfBS general assembly (in line with the board’s term of office). The speaker’s role is to represent JuSys externally and within the GfBS board, as well as to provide updates on GfBS activities. Additionally, the speaker is responsible for reporting on JuSys activities in the GfBS newsletter.
The JuSys group meets twice a year: once during the GfBS annual conference and again at a separate weekend meeting approximately six months later.
During the GfBS annual conference, the regular JuSys general meeting takes place. In contrast, the annual JuSys meeting features additional talks and in-depth discussions on a selected topic.
The JuSys general meeting serves to:
Anyone interested in the activities of the Young Systematists Working Group (AG JuSys) is warmly invited to join and become a member of our working group.
The GfBS supports JuSys both ideologically and financially. For example, travel grants are available for JuSys members who are also GfBS members to attend the annual meetings. Allocation of these funds is typically based on financial need.
Membership in the GfBS is not mandatory for JuSys members but is encouraged. There are reduced membership fees for students, and members also receive the GfBS journal ODE in digital format.
