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 University of Copenhagen has a number of positions are available within a cross-disciplinary research program aiming at 'explaining distribution of life on Earth'. Candidates should have a strong publication record, relevant analytical and data handling skills, and an ability to communicate within a research team. Competitive salary offered.
Full description and more details on the individual postdoctoral positions within eight themes are given at http://www1.bio.ku.dk/om/jobs/macroecology/.

Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) invites applications for a tenure-track position at the assistant professor level in biology with expertise in plant systematics, starting Fall 2009. We seek an enthusiastic botanist who is committed to excellence in teaching at a predominately undergraduate institution such as ours and is dedicated to establishing a research program that engages students. Teaching responsibilities will include: a field-based botany course, introductory biology (majors or non-majors) and an upper division course in one’s expertise. We are particularly interested in candidates whose research utilize phylogenetic methods to answer fundamental questions in botany, and might additionally use genomics tools. An interest in helping to maintain our herbarium is desired. Opportunities also exist for faculty to participate in courses in the first-year experience program, global education, environmental studies or other interdisciplinary programs.

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

You can purchase items (t-shirts etc.) featuring Aptostichus stephencolberti or the August SB cover, which shows the spider advancing on the California coast. 100% of proceeds go to graduate student programs.

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.