ForBio - The Research School in Biosystematics - towards permanent existence

Biosystematics includes studies of variation (morphological, genetic, geographic) of species and species groups, the processes that causes variation, and evolutionary relationships. Taxonomic knowledge is fundamental for such studies and a prerequisite fo r biodiversity estimates. Biosystematics is the core discipline of natural history museums and inextricably tied to museum collections. While society's need for high-quality information on biodiversity is rapidly increasing, there has been a reduction of biosystematics as a research discipline nationally and internationally. In collaboration with The Norwegian Species Initiative (Artsdatabanken), we propose to make the recently established Research School in Biosystematics (ForBio) permanent to reverse t he trend. ForBio will link the fragmented and often small research environments in Scandinavia to form an internationally strong platform for research and research training to improve research training and ensure long-term recruitment. A portfolio of cour ses will be coordinated within the universities' regular education program. Courses will be designed to provide a solid theoretical and practical understanding of the subject. Topics will include nomenclature, taxonomic practices and principles, basic and advanced phylogenetics, bioinformatics, and field courses to provide a broad knowledge of species in their ecological settings. Distribution of resources and courses, joint advisory groups, progress meetings, joint web site, workshops, and annual confere nces will secure a strong network. ForBio will continue to be organised as an open network headed by Dr. Popp (Natural History Museum, Oslo), and with one representative from each of the other university museums (Bergen Museum; Museum of Natural History a nd Archaeology, NTNU, Trondheim; Tromsø University Museum) constituting the executive staff. We apply for a four-year extension of the pilot project to implement ForBio as a permanent network-based research school.