American Society of Naturalists

American Society of Naturalists
Name	American Society of Naturalists
Formation	1883
Founder	Alpheus Spring Packard, Edward Drinker Cope, Alpheus Hyatt
Type	Scientific society
Membership	~1,000
Language	English
Website	http://www.amnat.org

American Society of Naturalists. Founded in 1883, it is one of the oldest and most distinguished professional organizations in the biological sciences, dedicated to advancing and unifying the conceptual foundations of evolutionary biology, ecology, and genetics. The society promotes the comprehensive, synthetic study of organisms in their natural environments, fostering interdisciplinary research that bridges traditional biological subdisciplines. Its membership includes many leading researchers who have shaped modern biological thought through their work in natural selection, population genetics, and ecosystem dynamics.

History

The society was established in 1883 by prominent naturalists including Alpheus Spring Packard, Edward Drinker Cope, and Alpheus Hyatt, during a period of intense scientific debate following the publication of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species. Early meetings were often held in conjunction with the American Association for the Advancement of Science and focused on discussions of morphology, paleontology, and the mechanisms of evolution. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the society's scope expanded to incorporate the emerging fields of genetics and ecology, influenced by the work of figures like Thomas Hunt Morgan and Ernst Mayr. It played a key role in the modern synthesis of evolutionary biology, facilitating dialogue between laboratory geneticists and field naturalists.

Organization and governance

The society is governed by an elected President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, who oversee its strategic direction and fiduciary health. Day-to-day operations are managed by an Executive Committee that includes these officers and several Council members elected from the general membership. Key administrative functions, including membership services and meeting coordination, are often handled in partnership with larger organizations like the University of Chicago Press or professional conference organizers. The society maintains close collaborative ties with other major scientific bodies such as the Society for the Study of Evolution and the Ecological Society of America.

Publications

The society's flagship publication is the peer-reviewed journal The American Naturalist, first published in 1867 and later adopted by the society in 1908. This journal is a premier venue for theoretical and empirical research in evolutionary biology, behavioral ecology, and macroevolution, published by the University of Chicago Press. It has featured seminal papers by scientists like Ronald Fisher, John Maynard Smith, and Robert MacArthur. The society also disseminates research highlights, commentary, and announcements through its official website and regular newsletters distributed to its global membership.

Awards and recognition

The society administers several prestigious awards to honor outstanding contributions to the biological sciences. The Sewall Wright Award recognizes senior investigators for a career of significant contributions to the conceptual unification of biology. The Presidential Award is given for the best paper published in The American Naturalist during the preceding year. Additionally, the Young Investigator's Prize acknowledges promising early-career researchers, while the Edward Drinker Cope and Alpheus Spring Packard awards are occasionally bestowed for exceptional service or achievement. Recipients of these honors have included luminaries such as Stephen Jay Gould, John H. Gillespie, and Dolph Schluter.

Activities and meetings

The society's primary annual event is its stand-alone meeting, which features symposia, plenary lectures, and contributed poster sessions focused on integrative biological themes. It also frequently co-sponsors special symposia at the annual meetings of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology and the Evolution conference organized by the Society for the Study of Evolution. These gatherings facilitate networking and collaboration among scientists from institutions like Harvard University, the University of California, Berkeley, and the Smithsonian Institution. A central activity is fostering the development of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers through dedicated workshops and mentorship sessions.

Notable members

Throughout its history, the society has counted among its members many of the most influential figures in biology. Founding and early members included the paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope, the entomologist Alpheus Spring Packard, and the neo-Lamarckian Alpheus Hyatt. Twentieth-century luminaries have included evolutionary biologists Ernst Mayr and G. G. Simpson, geneticist Theodosius Dobzhansky, and ecologist Robert H. MacArthur. Contemporary leaders in the field, such as Hopi Hoekstra, Sean B. Carroll, and Jonathan B. Losos, maintain active involvement, contributing to the society's mission of promoting a unified science of natural history.

Category:Scientific societies based in the United States Category:Biology organizations Category:Organizations established in 1883