Leopoldina Meeting

Peter K. Endress (Zürich)
Ulrich Lüttge (Darmstadt)
Benno Parthier (Halle/Saale)

About the Scientific Meeting

Taxonomy, as a part of systematics, deals with the structuring of the diversity of organisms. In the past twenty years systematics and evolutionary biology have shown an unprecedented development by the advent of new molecular techniques: (1) in molecular systematics, and (2) in molecular developmental biology, but also (3) by the discovery of excellently preserved fossils. This leads to (1) continuously more robust phylogenetic frameworks, (2) recognition of genetic networks in organ development, and (3) continuously improved minimum dating points for the divergence of taxa in the history of life.

Phylogenetic frameworks are extremely important for the reconstruction of evolution of structural and biological properties of organisms, and are increasingly used in other fields of plant biology, which were previously less concerned with evolutionary aspects (e. g. physiology, cytology…). Entire new fields are emerging based on phylogenetic methods, such as "evo-devo", phylogeography, or evolutionary genomics.

All three of these new developments (i. e., molecular systematics, molecular developmental biology, and evolutionary paleobotany) were initiated and vigourosly supported outside of Central Europe, mainly in the United States, Great Britain, and Scandinavia. In Central Europe the development was slower and less prominent. But it is hoped that their fundamental significance will be more appreciated in the future.

In this meeting it may be reflected and discussed what potentials these new developments have brought in terms of evolution at different levels of the systematic hierarchy and in several fields of plant biology, also outside of molecular biology, and what the prospects are.

All presentations will be published in Nova Acta Leopoldina. This printed conference volume will be available in 2005.

Reichelsheim

Der Botaniker und XI. Präsident der Leopoldina (1818 bis 1858) Christian Gottfried Nees von Esenbeck wurde am 14. Februar 1776 auf Schloß Reichenberg bei Reichelsheim geboren und wuchs dort auf. Neben seinen späteren wissenschaftsorganisatorischen und -politischen Aktivitäten als Akademiepräsident und Naturforscher sowie als Verfasser von naturphilosophisch-spekulativen Lehrbüchern hinterließ er vor allem ein für die botanische Taxonomie bedeutendes Werk. Systematisch bearbeitete er zahlreiche Gruppen der Blütenpflanzen, wie z. B. die Gräser, Brombeeren, Lorbeergewächse und Astern. Hauptsächlich wandte er sich jedoch den Algen, Pilzen und Moosen (Kryptogamen) zu, die in seiner Zeit noch kaum beschrieben worden waren.

Sein Interesse für die Kryptogamenforschung läßt sich auf die Umgebung und Anlage von Schloß Reichenberg zurückführen, womit dieser Ort über die biographischen Hintergründe hinaus auch für die Erläuterung spezifisch botanischer Forschungsschwerpunkte einsteht.

Gerade diese historischen Hintergründe haben die Leopoldina veranlaßt, im Geburtsort Christian Gottfried Nees von Esenbecks das Leopoldina-Meeting »From Plant Taxonomy to Evolutionary Biology – Von der Taxonomie zur Evolution der Pflanzen« in englischer Sprache zu veranstalten. Die öffentliche Abendveranstaltung findet in deutscher Sprache statt und ist für alle Interessierten offen.

Registration (Scientific Sessions only)

A fee of 30 Euro is charged for registration, abstract volume, and coffee breaks. All presentations will be printed after the meeting in a separate volume of Nova Acta Leopoldina. This conference volume is included in the registration fee. Student registration (15 Euro) will not include the conference volume. To participate in the guided tour of Reichelsheim on Thursday, June 10, 2004, please add 2,50 Euro per person.

Registration can be made by the enclosed registration form or by fax or e-mail. Registration should be made until May 1, 2004. To make the registration compulsory the fee must be paid until the date set.

Bank name:    Stadt- und Saalkreissparkasse Halle
Bank code:     800 537 62
Account:         386060855
Reference:      "Symposium Taxonomy"

For questions please contact:

Prof. Dr. Jutta Schnitzer- Ungefug
Secretary General
Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina
Postfach 11 05 43
06019 Halle (Saale), Germany
Phone: ++49 (0) 3 45 – 4 72 39 11/12,
Fax: ++49 (0) 3 45 – 4 72 39 19
E-Mail: schnitzer@leopoldina-halle.de

For further information about the Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina please visit our homepage: http://www.leopoldina-halle.de/

Venue

The meeting will take place at: Reichenberghalle, Konrad-Adenauer-Allee, 64385 Reichelsheim (Odenwald).
Registration desk phone: + 49 (0) 6164 – 91 16 13.

Accommodation

All participants are asked to make their own reservations directly. Upon request, the

Tourist-Information Reichelsheim, Bismarckstraße 43, 64385 Reichelsheim, Germany
Phone: ++49 (0) 61 64 – 5 08 26
Fax: ++49 (0) 61 64 – 5 08 33
E-Mail: touristinfo@reichelsheim.de

will send you a broschure listing hotels, guest houses, and private rooms. Alternatively, please visit the homepage of Reichelsheim (www.reichelsheim.de).

For all speakers rooms will be reserved at:

Gasthaus-Pension "Lärmfeuer", Im Oberdorf 40,
64385 Reichelsheim/Rohrbach
Phone: ++49 (0) 61 64 – 12 54
Fax: ++49 (0) 61 64 – 58 46

For students a limited number of inexpensive guest rooms is still available. Please contact Leopoldina for further information.

How to reach Reichelsheim

Coming from north, the closest train station is Darmstadt main train station, coming from south, the closest train station is Bensheim. From both cities, Reichelsheim can be reached by public busses (one bus per hour). Travel time from Darmstadt is approximately 75 minutes.

Stand: 07.11.2003