International Institute for Species Exploration

International Institute for Species Exploration
Name	International Institute for Species Exploration
Formation	2007
Type	Research institute
Location	College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York
Leader title	Director
Leader name	Brian C. Fisher

International Institute for Species Exploration is an academic center focused on cataloguing and publicizing newly described taxa. Founded at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, the institute works at the nexus of taxonomy, biodiversity, and conservation by coordinating researchers, museums, and journals. Its activities intersect with global institutions, scientific societies, and media outlets to raise awareness of species discovery.

History

The institute was established in 2007 amid collaborations involving the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, the Zoological Society of London, and taxonomists associated with the Smithsonian Institution and the National Museum of Natural History (France). Early partnerships included researchers from the Natural History Museum, London, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Founding figures drew on traditions from the Linnaean Society of London, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the archives of the Biodiversity Heritage Library while networking with editors at journals such as Nature, Science, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Subsequent institutional links extended to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, the Catalogue of Life, and initiatives supported by the Global Taxonomy Initiative and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Mission and Objectives

The institute's stated mission aligns with priorities articulated by bodies like the United Nations Environment Programme and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Objectives include accelerating species descriptions in collaboration with curators at the Natural History Museum, Los Angeles County, taxonomists affiliated with Harvard University, and systematists from the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge. The institute aims to bridge taxonomic research represented by the American Society of Naturalists, data infrastructures such as Global Biodiversity Information Facility, and publishing platforms including Zootaxa and the Journal of Natural History to inform policy discussions at venues like the Convention on Biological Diversity COP meetings and the United Nations General Assembly biodiversity dialogues.

Organization and Governance

Governance combines academic leadership at the State University of New York system with advisory input from curators at institutions like the Field Museum, the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (Spain), and the Canadian Museum of Nature. Boards and committees draw experts from the Council of Scientific Society Presidents, members of the Royal Society, and representatives of professional organizations including the Entomological Society of America and the International Mycological Association. Funding and oversight have involved grantmakers such as the National Science Foundation, the Packard Foundation, and partnerships with publishers including Oxford University Press and Elsevier.

Notable Activities and Programs

The institute organizes annual programs and collaborative projects with museums and universities, including specimen digitization campaigns with the Biodiversity Heritage Library and barcode initiatives linked to the International Barcode of Life project. It has convened symposia at venues such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science meetings and workshops with the Society for Conservation Biology and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory. Collaborative projects have partnered with conservation NGOs like Conservation International, World Wildlife Fund, and regional bodies such as the African Union science initiatives. The institute also engages with curatorial networks at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the Museum für Naturkunde.

The Top 10 New Species List

One of the institute's signature outputs is an annual "Top 10 New Species" selection, crafted with taxonomists and communicators from organs like National Geographic, the BBC, and the New York Times. Shortlists are drawn from descriptions published in outlets such as Zootaxa, Systematic Biology, and the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. The list highlights taxa named in journals affiliated with institutions like the Smithsonian Institution, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and universities including University of California, Berkeley and University of São Paulo. The selections have generated coverage involving broadcasters such as the Discovery Channel and have been showcased at events connected to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the World Congress on Nature and Biodiversity.

Research and Publications

The institute produces reviews, annotated checklists, and meta-analyses in collaboration with authors from Princeton University, the Max Planck Society, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Publications appear in peer-reviewed venues including Nature Ecology & Evolution, Bioscience, and specialist journals like Zoologica Scripta. Research themes intersect with datasets curated by Global Biodiversity Information Facility, molecular work at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, and phylogenetic syntheses involving researchers affiliated with the University of Tokyo and the Australian National University. The institute also contributes to taxonomic standards discussed at the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature and the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants meetings.

Outreach and Education

Outreach initiatives have linked the institute with major media outlets such as The Guardian, Reuters, and public broadcasters like NPR and CBC. Educational partnerships include collaborations with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, university extension programs at Cornell University, and citizen science platforms exemplified by iNaturalist and eBird. The institute has participated in exhibits at the American Museum of Natural History and programs with school networks associated with the National Science Teachers Association and community science efforts supported by foundations like the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

Category:Biodiversity