[Taxacom] MSc taxonomy

Wed Oct 1 09:35:16 CDT 2008

I agree with Charles: I completed the Edinburgh course and haven't 
looked back It has a very cross disciplinary approach. Taxonomy in a 
broad sense is in good shape in the UK as far as training goes, it is 
the lack of funding at postdoc and permanent positions that is lacking.
Apologies for my previous omission regarding fungal taxonomy: the course 
includes all levels of plant taxonomy from inc. algae and fungi as well 
as the more popular fluffy species.

Charles Coyle escribió:
> Hi,
>
> Having completed the Botany degree at Reading, and the Taxonomy Masters at 
> Edinburgh, I can say that Taxonomy teaching is in rather good health in the 
> UK at least.  I know there are many other courses here as well which people 
> have already mailed about.  There is certainly interest in the subject, and 
> the Masters course I witnessed at Reading and the course I took at Edinburgh 
> are terrific.   If you study Botany at Reading, you can take some of the 
> modules designed for the Masters degree.
>
>  It strikes me that the problem is not the teaching of Taxonomy, but 
> provision of enough jobs for all the enthusiastic people who graduate in it 
> every year
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Charles Coyle
> http://www.reading.ac.uk/biologicalsciences/pg-taught/biosci-pgtmscplantdiversity.asp
>
> Edinburgh Course
> http://www.rbge.org.uk/education/professional-courses/msc-in-biodiversity-and-taxonomy-of-plants
>
> Reading course
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Kathy Kron" <kronka at wfu.edu>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 2:32 PM
> To: "Eduard Stloukal" <stloukal at fns.uniba.sk>
> Cc: <taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu>
> Subject: Re: [Taxacom] MSc taxonomy
>
>   
>> We have a M.S. thesis program that is a mix of coursework and research. 
>> This
>> M.S. is in Biology as it is offered through our Biology Department at WFU,
>> but I have had several M.S. students who have done botanical theses. Many 
>> of
>> our entering students have limited botanical training so sometimes the
>> adviser has to take up much of the slack.
>>
>> On Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 5:26 AM, Eduard Stloukal 
>> <stloukal at fns.uniba.sk>wrote:
>>
>>     
>>> Dear Mark,
>>>
>>> We have a regular Bachelor study programme "the Systematic biology and
>>> ecology" of 6 semester
>>> duration at our faculty with many lectures in field of taxonomy and
>>> systematic biology.
>>>
>>> Graduates of this programme as well as ones from the Bc. programme 
>>> Biology
>>> (graduates from other
>>> universities are also welcome) can continue their study at one of MSc
>>> programmes Botany, Zoology,
>>> Ecology etc.
>>>
>>> We provide education also at PhD level (programmes like Zoology, Botany,
>>> Parasitology, Limnology,
>>> Ecology)
>>>
>>> Study is available in Slovak and English languages.
>>>
>>> Among topics discussed during the general EDIT meeting in Carvoeiro,
>>> Portugal (January this year)
>>> was the need to support not only summer courses for amateurs and 
>>> students,
>>> but also to support
>>> interest of universities to open regular courses focussed on taxonomy 
>>> with
>>> the curricula ensuring
>>> good training of next generation of taxonomists. Understanding of this 
>>> call
>>> was not general, but
>>> many participants concurred in the need to prepare some kind of the
>>> template for such programmes.
>>>
>>> Kind regards,
>>> Edo
>>>
>>> Vice-Dean of Faculty & Head of Department
>>> Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University,
>>> Mlynská dolina B-1, 842
>>> 15  Bratislava, Slovakia
>>> phone/fax: +421-2-60296333; fax: +421-905-570149; e-mail:
>>> stloukal at fns.uniba.sk; skype:
>>> edostloukal; ICQ: 497047467
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu [mailto:
>>> taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu] On Behalf Of
>>> Mark Costello
>>> Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 6:16 AM
>>> To: 'taxacom'
>>> Subject: [Taxacom] MSc taxonomy
>>>
>>> Dear Taxacom readers,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> It is difficult or impossible to teach taxonomy as part of undergraduate
>>> degrees nowadays. Courses I know off are usually days to weeks. However, 
>>> I
>>> believe MSc options would be possible, with a mix coursework (including
>>> practical) providing a breadth of knowledge, followed by a research 
>>> project
>>> doing taxonomy. They may focus on agricultural/marine/freshwater/insect
>>> etc.
>>>
>>>
>>> Are there any such courses around?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Best wishes
>>>
>>> Mark
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>       
>>>> <>  ><>  ><>  ><>  ><>  ><>  ><>  ><>  ><> ><>
>>>>         
>>> Dr Mark J. Costello, Associate Professor,
>>> Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland,
>>> PO Box 349, Warkworth 0941, New Zealand.
>>> [Delivery address 160 Goat Island Road, Leigh, New Zealand]
>>> Direct tel. +64-9-3737599 ext 83608; Reception +64-9-422 6111
>>>
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>>> Fax +64-9-422 6113; Email  <mailto:m.costello at auckland.ac.nz>
>>> m.costello at auckland.ac.nz
>>>
>>> Skype: markcostello
>>> Website  <http://www.marine.auckland.ac.nz/> www.marine.auckland.ac.nz
>>> Other websites:
>>>
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>>>
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>>>       
>>
>> -- 
>> Kathleen A. Kron
>> Professor
>> Department of Biology
>> Wake Forest University
>> Winston-Salem, NC 27109-7325
>> email: kronka at wfu.edu
>> www.ericaceae.org
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