Systematic biology research is carried out by a wide range of institutions in the UK, from museums and botanical gardens to research institutes and university departments. Collectively, the reference collections and staff expertise at these institutions represent a world-leading resource, extending our knowledge and understanding of the identity, distribution and natural relationships of life on Earth.
Until recently, however, the lack of networks of communication between these groups has meant that there has been little co-ordination of systematic research at the national level. A national strategy for systematic biology research, developed with consensus from the wider systematic community and facilitated by the Forum, will aim to identify priorities for the UK’s expertise and resources in systematics by assessing scientific and user needs. The strategy will also address the implications of the identified priorities for collections development and for training.
The implementation of the national
strategy would help to:
The Strategy will address work at the global level; will cover all environments, including terrestrial and marine; and include both preserved and living collections.
Objectives of a National Strategy
1. To develop a clear set of priorities
for systematic biology research for the next 10 years and beyond, taking account
of identified user and scientific needs.
2. To ensure that the UK’s resources - the collections and expertise - are used
in the most effective way, through identifying opportunities for coordination
and collaborative resource sharing.
3. To define the UK’s role in systematics at the European and wider international
level.
4. To build upon the diversity of the UK collections-holding institutions by
developing the roles of the different types of institution: regional, national,
international, university, and so on.