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5th Bernhard Rensch Prize for Biological Systematics of the GfBS

Fri, 02/13/2009 - 09:11 — dsiweb-admin

The Bernhard Rensch Prize is being awarded annually by the Society of Biological Systematics (GfBS, Germany) to a young scientist who has demonstrated exceptional work in any area of biological systematics. The award was launched by the GfBS according to a suggestion by the recently deceased Prof. Dr. Ernst Mayr, an honorary member of the GfBS, who also helped underwrite the endowment for the prize with a generous contribution. The prize honours the lifelong work of Bernhard Rensch, one of the founders of the 'New Systematics'.

Eligible for consideration is any significant work (e.g., Bachelors or Masters thesis, PhD dissertation, or the equivalent) where the applicant is the sole or primary author. The study can be in any area in which the
GfBS is involved, with botanical, paleontological, and zoological (broadly defined) studies all being equally desired. All submitted work will be judged according to its scientific quality, innovativeness and
creativity by the Bernhard Rensch Committee, consisting of members of the council of the GfBS and one additional, external jury member.The prize of 1,000 Euro together with the Bernhard Rensch Medal will be
awarded at the Annual Meeting of the Society, where the recipient will present the work in a public seminar. The Society will pay all the costs of the recipient associated with attending the annual meeting as well
as awarding a free one-year membership to the Society.

The following is a summary of the key points associated with an application for the prize:

  • The prize is open to all members of the scientific community, whether or not they are members of the GfBS. Candidates can be either self-nominated or nominated by another person.
  • The candidate must be either the sole or primary author of the nominated work.
  • Only works written in either English or German can, unfortunately, be taken into consideration.
  • The nominated work can be in any of the areas of systematic botany, paleontology, or zoology, each of which will be judged equally.
  • The candidates must have defended their PhD no more than three years before the submission deadline.
  • Applications must include two hardcopies of the nominated work. A short summary of the candidate's academic career and any other relevant material, either about the study or the candidate, is also
    welcome.

All applications must be received by May 15, 2009 and be sent to the following:

Apl. Prof. Dr. Uwe Fritz, Direktor
Museum fuer Tierkunde (Museum of Zoology)
Senckenberg Naturhistorische Sammlungen Dresden
(Senckenberg Natural History Collections Dresden)
A.-B.-Meyer-Bau / Koenigsbruecker Landstr. 159
D-01109 Dresden
Germany
Phone ++49/(0)351/8926-326
Fax ++49/(0)351/8926-327