Linnean Society of London

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The Linnean Society of London (German: Linné Society ) was founded in 1788 and is considered one of the oldest existing natural science societies.

General

In late 1787, the amateur botanist and clergyman Samuel Goodenough , later Bishop of Carlisle, the botanist and physician Sir James Edward Smith and the entomologist Thomas Marsham founded the Linnean Society of London. The first meetings - the first in 1788 - took place at Smith's house in London, where he also kept the Linnaeus Botanical Collection, Smith moving several times to London. It was given more solid forms with the publication of a charter in 1802. It received a permanent seat in 1887 with other learned societies at Burlington House.

The principle set out in the founding corporate purpose is "The cultivation of the Science of Natural History in all its branches", ie the care science of natural history in all its branches .

The Linnean Society is named after the Swedish naturalist Carl von Linné . The Company has its registered office at Burlington House , Piccadilly, London . New members are determined by election.

Magazines

It offers biologists and laypeople interested in biology a forum by organizing numerous events and congresses and also publishing the following journals:

  • Biological Journal of the Linnean Society - Biology journal
  • Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society - botany journal
  • Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society - Zoological journal
  • The Linnean - quarterly company newsletter, replaced by PuLSe in 2009 .

The main topics are genetics , biodiversity , systematics and plant and animal taxonomy .

Medals and Prizes

The following medals and prizes are awarded by the society:

  • Linnaeus Medal , established in 1888 for the 100th anniversary. It is the Society's highest award for scientific work and is awarded annually alternately to a botanist or a zoologist or (which has been customary since 1958) to both in the same year.
  • Darwin-Wallace Medal , first awarded in 1908 and only every 50 years (until 2008), for outstanding progress in evolutionary biology .
  • HH Bloomer Award , established in 1963 from a bequest from amateur naturalist Harry Howard Bloomer to honor an amateur researcher who has made a significant contribution to biology.
  • Bicentenary Award , established in 1978 on the 200th anniversary of Linnaeus' death. The prize is awarded annually “to recognize the work of a person under 40”.
  • Jill Smythies Award , established in 1986, for botanical illustrations.
  • Irene Manton Prize , established in 1990, for the best PhD thesis in botany during an academic year in the UK.

Collections

Carl von Linné's botanical and zoological collections were purchased in 1783 by Sir James Edward Smith , the Society's first president, on the advice of Sir Joseph Banks . The collections are now in London and include 14,000 plants, 158 fish, 1,564 shells, 3,198 insects, 1,600 books and 3,000 letters and other documents. They can be viewed after registration.

Smith's plant collection is also managed by the company. It was recorded in a database by the Smith Herbarium Project of the National Museums Liverpool . 6000 copies were cleaned and repaired.

literature

Web links

Commons : Linnean Society of London  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files
Magazines

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The Society of Friends of Natural Sciences in Berlin (GNF), which also still exists , was founded in 1773 and is therefore 15 years older