International Congress of Mammalogy

International Congress of Mammalogy
Name	International Congress of Mammalogy
Formation	1972
Type	International scientific conference
Purpose	Coordination of mammalogical research and conservation
Headquarters	Rotating host institutions
Region served	Global
Membership	National societies, individual researchers, institutions

International Congress of Mammalogy The International Congress of Mammalogy is a periodic global conference that brings together researchers from institutions such as Smithsonian Institution, American Museum of Natural History, Natural History Museum, London, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, and Australian Museum to present research on taxa including Primates, Carnivora, Rodentia, Chiroptera, and Cetacea. Founded to foster collaboration among societies like the American Society of Mammalogists, Mammal Society (UK), Sociedad Mexicana de Mastozoología, and Sociedade Brasileira de Mastozoologia, the Congress features plenaries, symposia, and workshops often co-organized with universities such as University of Oxford, Harvard University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Tokyo, and University of Cape Town. Delegates historically include leaders from agencies such as World Wildlife Fund, IUCN, BirdLife International, United Nations Environment Programme, and Convention on Biological Diversity.

History

The Congress emerged during a period of institutional expansion among groups like the American Society of Mammalogists, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Royal Society, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Säugetierkunde, and Society for Conservation Biology following meetings at venues including Smithsonian Institution and Natural History Museum, London. Early congresses attracted prominent mammalogists from University of Cambridge, University of Chicago, University of California, Los Angeles, National Museum of Natural Sciences (Spain), and University of Buenos Aires, alongside representatives of foundations such as the National Science Foundation, Wellcome Trust, and Leverhulme Trust. Over time the Congress networked with regional bodies like European Mammal Society, African Mammalia Group, Asociación Latinoamericana de Mastozoología, and Asian Mammalogy Association to broaden participation from institutions such as Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Universidade de São Paulo, Peking University, and Indian Institute of Science.

Organization and Governance

Governance typically involves an international committee including representatives from organizations like the American Society of Mammalogists, IUCN/SSC Chiroptera Specialist Group, International Union for Quaternary Research, International Biogeography Society, and national academies such as the National Academy of Sciences (US), Royal Society (UK), and Académie des sciences (France). Host selection often consults university partners such as University of Pretoria, University of Helsinki, University of Sydney, McGill University, and University of Auckland and funding partners including National Geographic Society, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Carnegie Corporation, and Packard Foundation. Committees coordinate with editorial boards from journals like Journal of Mammalogy, Mammal Review, Mammalia (journal), Biological Conservation, and Conservation Biology.

Meetings and Venues

Congresses have convened at major venues associated with institutions such as Smithsonian Institution, Australian Museum, Natural History Museum, London, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, National Museum of Natural History (France), and universities including University of California, Berkeley, University of Oxford, Harvard University, University of Tokyo, University of Cape Town, University of São Paulo, Peking University, University of Pretoria, University of Helsinki, McGill University, University of Auckland, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, University of Sydney, University of Buenos Aires, Université de Montréal, University of Nairobi, and University of Chile. Regional satellite meetings have been hosted by societies such as European Mammal Society, Asociación Colombiana de Mastozoología, Sociedade Brasileira de Mastozoologia, Sociedad Española para la Conservación de los Mamíferos, and Japanese Society of Mammalogists.

Scientific Program and Themes

Programs span topics that intersect with institutions and projects like Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Long Term Ecological Research Network, PanTHERIA, IUCN Red List, and initiatives by World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International, Wildlife Conservation Society, and The Nature Conservancy. Sessions address applied issues linked to laws and frameworks such as Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, Convention on Biological Diversity, Ramsar Convention, and collaborations with research centers like Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Salk Institute, Kew Gardens, Monash University, University of California Davis, Cornell University, Duke University, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Institut Pasteur, CSIC (Spain), CNRS (France), and CSIRO.

Awards and Recognitions

The Congress has highlighted awards granted by organizations such as the American Society of Mammalogists, European Mammal Society, Royal Society (UK), National Academy of Sciences (US), International Union for Conservation of Nature, Linnean Society of London, Zoological Society of London, Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, and foundations including MacArthur Foundation and Guggenheim Foundation. Honorary lectures have featured laureates from institutions like University of Cambridge, Harvard University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Oxford, Max Planck Society, and recipients of prizes such as the Darwin Medal, Copley Medal, Balzan Prize, and Royal Society Fellowship.

Publications and Proceedings

Proceedings and special issues arising from Congress symposia are published in journals and series linked to publishers and institutions like Journal of Mammalogy, Mammal Review, Mammalia (journal), Biological Conservation, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, Springer Nature, Elsevier, Wiley-Blackwell, Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, CSIRO Publishing, and institutional presses such as Harvard University Press, University of Chicago Press, Princeton University Press, Johns Hopkins University Press, and Routledge.

Participation and Membership Criteria

Participation typically requires affiliation with universities, museums, or societies such as American Society of Mammalogists, European Mammal Society, Japanese Society of Mammalogists, Sociedade Brasileira de Mastozoologia, Sociedad Mexicana de Mastozoología, African Mammal Society, Asociación Colombiana de Mastozoología, or independent researchers associated with laboratories at Smithsonian Institution, Natural History Museum, London, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, University of Oxford, Harvard University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Tokyo, University of Cape Town, University of São Paulo, Peking University, McGill University, and funding agencies like National Science Foundation, Natural Environment Research Council, Australian Research Council, FAPESP, CONACYT, and NSFC.

Category:Conferences in zoology