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Taxonomy & Systematics

UK Taxonomy & Systematics Review published

In response to the House of Lords Science & Technology Committee report, highlighting concerns over the state of taxonomy and systematics in the UK, the Natural Environment Research Council commissioned a study on behalf of all research funders in this area. The study comprised two parts:

1. The UK Taxonomy and Systematics Review, which provides quantitative data on the current state of the subject in the UK, as requested by the Science & Technology Committee. This was conducted by a team from the Natural History Museum led by Professor Geoff Boxshall.
    
2. A document, Developing a National Strategy in Taxonomy & Systematics, exploring the need for a national strategy in this area and how it might be developed. This was written by an independent group of nine scientists working in taxonomy and cognate areas chaired by Professor Charles Godfray. It makes nineteen strategic recommendations about how the UK taxonomy and systematics sector can be strengthened to ensure the future health of the discipline.

The newly published review and strategy document have been broadly welcomed by the key funders and stakeholders, with strong support for the proposed establishment of a Taxonomy Coordination Committee. A full response to the study will be published online by the end of July 2011.

UK Taxonomy & Systematics Review (856KB)

Developing a National Strategy in Taxonomy & Systematics (168KB)