Systematics is the study of biological diversity and its origins. It focuses on understanding evolutionary relationships among organisms, species, higher taxa, or other biological entities, such as genes, and the evolution of the properties of taxa including intrinsic traits, ecological interactions, and geographic distributions. An important part of systematics is the development of methods for various aspects of phylogenetic inference and biological nomenclature/classification.

The objective of the Society of Systematic Biologists is the advancement of the science of systematic biology in all its aspects of theory, principles, methodology, and practice, for both living and fossil organisms, with emphasis on areas of common interest to all systematic biologists regardless of individual specialization.

Books recently reviewed in Systematic Biology, or written by members of the Society.

The "Spida of Love" segment from The Colbert Report, featuring Jason Bond is below.

Dr. Jason Bond, of East Carolina University, will appear on the TV show "The Colbert Report" the night of Wednesday, August 6th. He promised to name a species of trapdoor spider after Stephen Colbert, which he does in his Systematic Biology August '08 paper, “An integrative method for delimiting cohesion species: finding the population-species interface in a group of Californian trapdoor spiders with extreme genetic divergence and geographic structuring,” co-authored by Amy K. Stockman, also of East Carolina University. The paper will be available from Taylor and Francis free for 6 months.

Bond named a spider after the musician Neil Young earlier this year, Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi, which sparked the attention of Colbert. “Where’s my spider?” Colbert asked on his show. “The world demands an eight-legged tribute to Stephen Colbert, and I do not mean another barbershop quartet.” Jason Bond accepted the challenge in an earlier on-air phone interview, and will appear in person on the 6th along with several live specimens of Colbert's namesake.

Joe Felsenstein will give the Systematics Association's Sir Julian Huxley Lecture at The Linnean Society, Burlington House, Piccadily, London, 6 pm, 2nd July 2008. The title is "Not the fly on the wall: can systematists cope with uncertainty?". The meeting is open to visitors, and wine will be served after the lecture to members and guests.

Karl Kjer has two positions available associated with an NSF-funded project on Trichoptera Phylogenetics. Molecular phylogenetic skills are an asset, but he is also looking to work with skilled morphologists. Karl would naturally look favorably on candidates who are able to extend the funding of this research with their own resources Please E-mail Karl Kjer for details. He will be accepting applications throughout the summer, and expect to hire the postdoc in the fall or winter. The graduate
student position is also flexible in terms of starting date.
Postdoctoral Associate - Starting at $US 35,000/year, with benefits. Funded for two years, with the possibility of extension.
Graduate Assistant - Working toward a PhD. Approximately $US 25,000/year, funded for two years as a G.A. on the grant, and then as a T.A. afterward.

The 27th meeting of the Willi Hennig Society (or "Hennig meeting") will take place in Tucumán, Argentina, October 28-31 2008. It will be made jointly with the Reunión Argentina de Cladística y Biogeografía. There is more information on the meeting web site, www.hennig27.com.ar.

The local cladistic and the Hennig meetings provide a space for discussion and exchange of ideas between researchers working in the fields of systematics, phylogenetics, biogeography and biodiversity in general. The atmosphere of these meetings is informal, with an emphasis on the discussion and presentation of new ideas.

For the newcomers to the world of phylogenetics and historical biogeography, these meetings present a great opportunity to meet, mano-a-mano, and listen to the talks by some of the most renowned workers in the field of phylogenetics. In this meeting we will have people like James S. Farris, James M. Carpenter, Ward C. Wheeler, Kevin C. Nixon, and many others.

Steve Farris	Jim Carpenter	Ward Wheeler	Kevin Nixon

All those of you interested in participating will be most welcome. If you have any doubts or inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact the organisers at hennig27@gmail.com.

For 2008 BSCS is offering an institute focused on evolution, titled “Evolution: Earth & Life” for those teaching Evolution. In addition to the information below, you can locate more at www.bscs.org/si. It includes a six-day, face-to-face workshop experience in Colorado Springs, Colorado (50 hours PD), 20-25 JULY 2008, and an online professional learning community that will be moderated through May 2009 (up to 55 hours additional PD).

The Culicidae Systematic Laboratory at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, seeks a highly motivated and productive postdoctoral researcher to work on FAPESP Temático-funded research on historical demographics of Anopheles darlingi mosquito populations, divergence times, and rates of molecular evolution.