The Systematics Association

The Systematics Association is a UK charitable organisation founded in 1937 to promote the study of systematics and taxonomy. It represents and advances systematic biology, an interdisciplinary field concerned with biodiversity, its origins, relationships and classification. Drawing on areas including biology, genetics, palaeontology, ecology and mathematics, systematics helps researchers identify and describe relationships among organisms.

The Association supports researchers worldwide through competitive research funding, grants for meetings and workshops, and training opportunities. It organises conferences and events on important themes in systematics, including a major international conference held every two years, the Young Systematists’ Forum for postgraduate students and doctoral researchers, and the annual Founders’ Lecture. It also contributes to events such as the Joy of Discovery day and the Science Policy Lecture, organised in partnership with the Linnean Society. In addition, the Association publishes books covering aspects of systematics and supports researchers organising organism-focused meetings. Run by volunteer officers and council members, it provides a forum for scientific discussion and helps sustain research, learning and collaboration in taxonomy and systematic biology.