The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement No. 29, a special volume by G. W. H. Davison, D. R. Wells & H. S. Yong (editors) in honour of the 80th birthday of Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy, 5th Earl of Cranbrook, has been published. Articles are available for free download here)
The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement No. 28 on the Methods for detecting and surveying tropical carnivores (Editors: Jerrold L. Belant & Andreas Wilting) has been published. Articles are available for free download here)
The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement No. 27 by Maurice Kottelat, on the fishes of the inland waters of Southeast Asia, is now available for download here
The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature is the international body responsible for the effective use and implementation of scientific names for animals. The Commission publishes the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature which dictates how animals are to be named and used, including the publication of rulings (called Opinions) on scientific names.
Some of the recent notable rulings have been on the giant Aldabra tortoise, the Drosophilla fruit-fly, and the Archaeopteryx.
Hitherto, the Commission was funded through the International Trust on Zoological Nomenclature, which has since run out of money.
Recognising the vital function of the Commission to science in general, and to zoology in particular, the Office of the Deputy President (Research and Technology) of National University of Singapore, with support from the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research is organising and hosting a meeting of the Commission in NUS from 17–20 November 2013. The journals Nature and Science have both provided excellent online news coverage on the meeting, and discuss the major challenges that face the Commission.
The University has also agreed to fund a Singapore-based secretariat for the next three years. Professor Barry Halliwell, NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology), says that “Singapore and the surrounding Southeast Asian region are enormously rich in animal life, with new species being discovered weekly. NUS has for many years conducted excellent research on biology and biodiversity, and how it will be affected by environmental changes; and we therefore recognise the importance of the zoological commission and its activities. We are proud to host the secretariat of the ICZN.”
The NUS commitment to support the Commission for the next three years will allow the Commission to tackle nomenclatural issues related to the wider scientific community, as well as organisational issues which will determine its future.
The Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research and the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature is proud to present the free public talk:
The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) and the Biodiversity Informatics Infrastructure
Date: 14 November 2013 Time: 7:00pm–8:00pm Venue: University Hall Auditorium, National University of Singapore, Lee Kong Chian Wing Level 2, Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119077
About the Talk:
Synopsis:
What rules govern the way animals are named?
Who makes and enforces these rules?
Why are these rules still relevant for science today?
One of the most important components of the biodiversity informatics infrastructure is the taxonomic backbone. All biological information is related to species concepts. As biologists use species names to communicate species concepts, a reliable framework for species names is instrumental for sharing knowledge in biology. The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature has provided a legal infrastructure since the early 20th century, and now endeavours to expand its services to the zoological community with a central registration system called ZooBank. The initiatives and challenges to build a robust digital infrastructure for biological information are discussed.
About the Speaker:
Dr. JAN VAN TOL specialises in in the Odonata (dragonflies), especially the family Platystictidae. His current research interests are the taxonomy, phylogeny and biogeography of the Odonata of Southeast Asia. He is based at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Click HERE to register.
Raffles Museum Toddycats & Cicada Tree Eco-Place are pleased to present this free public talk:
“Forget Not Our Living Forest” by Joseph Lai, botanist
Thu 17 Oct 2013: 6.30pm – 8.00pm
Venue: Lecture Theatre 25, Faculty of Science, NUS (map)
All are welcome,
please register at:
tinyurl.com/livingforest-17oct2013
About the talk
Timeless and priceless beyond imagination, our living forest lives and breathes for us, providing us with a green lung and enriching our lives with a vessel of flora and fauna that is so intricately diverse and rich. Forget Not Our Living Forest seeks to reconnect us with, and re-energise our appreciation for the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, our natural heritage, set in the heart of our island.
Veteran botanist Joseph Lai will unravel the priceless denizens of the forest, carefully and painstakingly assembled from years of appreciative observations. Never before have you seen such an enthralling ensemble of forest denizens and feel the life of a living forest, uniquely near our doorstep in Singapore!
Thanks to Joseph Lai for use of the images.
For more information, visit http://lovemacritchie.wordpress.com/forget-not-our-living-forest-talks
The Love MacRitchie walks for NUS are two-hour Saturday morning walks conducted by Raffles Museum Toddycats for the NUS community. Enthusiastic guides will share with you stories about a variety of amazing plants and animals living in our precious forest heritage.
Register at: tinyurl.com/lovemacritchiewalks-nus
See also Thu 17 Oct 2013: 6.30pm @ NUS LT25 – “Forget not our Living Forest” – botanist Joseph Lai unveils an entourage of enthralling forest denizens!
The walks and talk are part…
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The museum was recently featured in ALUMNUS, the almuni magazine of the National University of Singapore.
Your support will go a long way in curating and maintaining our exhibits and specimens!
Thank you for your support!.
A new Raffles Museum book by S. Y. Tan, C. Y. Koh, H. J. M. Siow, T. Li, H. F. Wong, A. Heyzer & H. T. W. Tan on the 100 Common Vascular Plants of the Nee Soon Swamp Forest is out. The book is available for free download at the website.
NUS Biodiversity Crew Raffles Museum Toddycats
Raffles Museum News III (2007 – 2014) 