IABMS

International Association of Botanical and Mycological Societies (IABMS)

Save the date! The Australian flora with its many endemics and strong Gondwanan element, provides a unique opportunity full of inspiring experiences for the botanical visitor --Melbourne 23-30 July 2011.
The International Botanical Congress (IBC) is a major convention of scientists from around the world to discuss new research in the plant sciences. The IBC is held only once every six years, and last met in Australia in 1981. These Congresses are particularly notable in that they bring together scientists not only from many countries, but also from many disciplines within the broad research field of plant science, including botany, mycology, plant ecology, horticulture, agriculture, and related fields. The increasing knowledge about plants—their history, growth, uses, interactions with other organisms, and roles in the ecosystem—is becoming progressively important to the stability and sustainability of the human endeavor and, indeed, of all life on Earth.

The XVIII IBC will be held under the auspices of the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS), through the International Association of Botanical and Mycological Societies (IABMS) of the IUBS. The XVIII IBC in Australia will be organized by many members of the botanical community, including botanical, mycological, and ecological societies, universities, botanical research institutions, and other sponsors. The first circular will be sent in 2009 to all botanists and institutions through society mailing lists or on request.

IABMS comprises all international organizations with interests in botany and mycology that are scientific members adhering to the International Union of Biological Societies (IUBS). Prof. Dr. Marianne Popp, University of Vienna, and Prof. Dr. Michael Hesse, University of Vienna, Presidents, IBC XVII, will serve as ex officio Presidents of the IABMS board until the midpoint before the 2011 XVIII IBC, after which time Dr Judy West, Australian National Herbarium, CSIRO, Canberra, President, IBC XVIII, will serve. Other board members are the presidents or other representatives of the societies. Currently, there are twenty three IABMS members. Officers elected at XVII 19 July 2005 at Vienna, Austria, are Meredith Blackwell <mblackwell@lsu.edu>, Chair, and David Mabberley <D.Mabberley@kew.org>, Secretary, who will serve until the next International Botanical Congress in 2011.

Committee IBC 2011 Melbourne

President
Dr. Judy West, Australian National Herbarium, CSIRO, Canberra

Vice-Presidents

Dr. Jeremy Burdon, CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra

Prof. Pauline Ladiges, University of Melbourne

Secretary-General

Ms. Karen Wilson, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney

Organizing Committee Members

Prof David Cantrill, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne
Dr. Tim Entwisle, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
Mr Lionel Henderson, CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra

History of IABMS

The goals of IABMS adopted at the Yokohama XV International Botanical Congress (1993) are:

To promote the exchange of information between the adhering organizations and coordinate and further their aims and efforts, by all suitable means; and

To encourage international scientific bodies with an interest in plant sciences, that are not members of IUBS, to apply for Scientific Membership in the Union in order to be able to adhere to the Association.

Toward these aims the practical task of the IABMS is to ensure the continued organization of International Botanical Congresses. In choosing a Congress site, a committee composed of IABMS members screens proposals and recommends a site to IABMS members.

Australia’s botanical community is eager to welcome international colleagues to the 2011 IBC for an intellectually stimulating and socially memorable occasion.

Last modified: 5 February 2010
Maintained by Meredith Blackwell
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