Welcome

A Forum for Natural History

At the Linnean Society of London we are driven by a single purpose as outlined in our first charter, 200 years ago:

The cultivation of the Science of Natural History in all its branches

Today more than ever the Society is an important contemporary organisation encouraging debate, research, publications, meetings, as well as maintaining internationally important historical collections in the biological sciences.

If you are not already a member we do hope that you will still attend our events (which are open to members and non-members alike), or use our email update service - linnean-news - to stay in touch.

Anyone interested in our work is welcome to join the Society. Those with ideas, comments, suggestions or questions are also encouraged to make contact.

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We would like to know your thoughts about our website. Please tell us what you like and what you would change. Email your thoughts to our Executive Secretary, Dr Elizabeth Rollinson, at elizabeth(at)linnean.org.

Latest News

The Linnean Society of London announces the medals and awards for 2011

The Linnean Society of London aims to promote and encourage the study of all aspects of the biological sciences, with particular emphasis on evolution, taxonomy, biodiversity and sustainability.

Published: 26th May 2011

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Rumphius’ masterpiece presented to the Linnean Society of London

On 12th May 2011 the Linnean Society of London, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science and the Society for the History of Natural History, supported by Annals of Botany and Yale University Press, hosted a joint symposium “Visions from the Blind Seer of Ambon – A celebration of Georg Everard Rumphius (1627-1702) and his Ambonese Herbal”.

Press Release Source: The Linnean Society of London/Yale University Press. Published: 18th May 2011

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Taxonomy in the big society

Representatives from statutory agencies, national, regional and local museums, botanic gardens and local natural history societies met at the Linnean Society of London on March 9th 2011 at a meeting entitled “Taxonomy in the Big Society”.

Published: 1st April 2011

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New publication

Letters to Linnaeus

Edited by Sandra Knapp and Quentin Wheeler

What would we write today to a man who changed the face of natural science?

In 1758 Carl Linnaeus published Systema Naturae, in which he named all of life as he knew it. Over 250 years his binomial system, beautiful and powerful in its simplicity and adaptability, has enabled universal communication about nature. The letters collected in this book reveal Linnaeus’ personal impact, advances and developments in science since his death, the profound impact he has had on generations of naturalists and what we might expect in the next 250 years. The result is a fitting tribute to Linnaeus and his legacy. Letters to Linnaeus are written with individualistic humour, passion, and conviction making them a uniquely enjoyable read as well as an introduction to some of the theoretical and practical debates that surround systematic biology today.

Priced at only £15 + p&p

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