2024 Biennial Conference

2024 International
Biennial Conference

Wednesday 19th - Friday 21st June 2024

Reading, United Kingdom

General information
Programme & workshops

Plenary Speakers

Erica McAlister

Natural History Museum, London
Erica McAllister is an entomologist, Principal Curator for Diptera and Siphonaptera at the Natural History Museum, London. Erica has worked on Dipteran taxonomy and diversity, undertaking extensive fieldwork across the globe as well as working on novel research methods for museum specimens, she is an honorary fellow of the Royal Entomological Society and was president of the Amateur Entomologist's Society. Beyond academia, her contributions include award-winning popular science books such as "The secret life of flies" and its sequel, "The inside out of flies". She gives regular public talks and has presented BBC Radio 4 programmes. She has also appeared on BBC 2, the BBC World Service, ABC, NPR and several podcasts.

Sandy Hetherington

University of Edinburgh
Sandy Hetherington is an evolutionary paleontologist and lead of the Molecular Palaeobotany and Evolution Group at the University of Edinburgh. Based at the Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, Sandy applies an interdisciplinary approach, including molecular biology and use of fossils, to understand the origin and evolution of key land plant innovations. Sandy has been recognised for his research receiving the Irene Manton Prize in 2018 for the best thesis in Botany by the Linnean Society and the Palaeontological Association Exceptional Lecturer in 2020. His group at Edinburgh are also highly engaged with public outreach, promoting the importance and use of fossil plant collections in herbaria on the BBC news website and being interviewed on episode 3 (‘Green’) of the tv series Earth.

The Venue

University of Reading

The biennial will be held at the University of Reading, Palmer building (Whiteknights Campus, RG6 6EW).

 
Reading itself is a town in Berkshire, southeast England, located at the confluence of the river Thames and the river Kennet. Dating back to the 8th century, Reading is a major commercial and technological centre, also famous for its summer music festival.
 
The conference is to be held on the Whiteknights campus of the University, 130 hectares of parkland with many fine trees, species-rich meadows, woodland, lakes and the beautiful Harris Garden. The campus has won 11 consecutive Green Flag awards, recognising the good management of this high-quality green space.

How to get to Reading

Reading is the second busiest interchange station outside London, and it is easily accessible from all main UK cities by train, including direct train services to London (25 minutes) all day and night. Direct connections by train or bus also to Heathrow airport, Gatwick airport, Birmingham International airport, and several other airports in southern England.

Reading is also easily accessible by car as it lies next to the M4 and other important roads.

Location on the map & accommodation

The University of Reading Palmer building is on Whiteknights Campus, the main university campus. It is located two miles from Reading town centre, with direct, frequent connections by bus. Line 21 Claret stops in the campus and is thus the most direct route, although other bus lines stop nearby and are good alternatives.

 

Most hotels in Reading are located in the town centre (Ibis Reading Centre, Novotel Reading Centre), while accommodation closer to the campus consists mostly of rental apartments. Near campus, you may want to check the Sure Hotel by Best Western Reading.

Walking between town centre and the campus takes around 45 minutes, while the bus services mentioned above complete the route in just a few minutes.

Organising Committee

Pablo Muñoz

Complutense University
of Madrid
Korey Torres

Julie Hawkins

University of Reading
Korey Torres

Eve Lucas

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Terry Dennis

Kálmán Könyves

Royal Horticultural Society
Katy Gilmore

Peter Mulhair

University of Oxford
Katy Gilmore

Contact

For any questions or queries related to the Biennial conference, for example if you need a support letter for a visa application or you have special requirements, please contact us at biennial@systass.org. For general questions pertaining to the Association please use communications@systass.org or find us in social media.
Korey Torres
Rated 5 out of 5

GAIA, by Cynthia Wong

Currently based in Valencia (Spain), Cynthia Wong has been honing her skills as a freelance digital illustrator during her spare time, while pursuing a PhD in Biotechnology at the Universitat Politècnica de València. Prior to her current adventure in the east side of the Atlantic Ocean, she investigated the interplay between plant hormones that regulate seed germination at the University of Toronto during her masters. There she was introduced to Striga hermonthica, a devastating parasitic plant that plagues common agricultural crops. This scientific topic sparked Cynthia to explore the realm of fascinating parasitic plants and other ‘rulebreakers’ of the plant world. Nowadays, she is grateful to be able to continue nurturing her interest in plants by studying the genetic mechanism(s) underlying plants’ drought response during her PhD.

Cynthia’s keen eye and attention for detail allows her to offer a holistic view on the beautiful relationship between art and science that nature exhibits through her illustrations. She thrives to uncover the secrets and unknowns of nature and illustrate its wonders through her art. With her scientific work and art, she hopes to inspire us to look upon nature with curious eyes and caring hearts.

The systematics Association (UK Charity Commission 270429)

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