glimpses
FISKEBÄCKSKIL
ITER LAPPONICUM Exhibition, Jokkmokk, Ájtte, The Swedish Mu-
NEWSLETTER NR 5 NOV 2006
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Linnaeus spread knowledge freely,
and was a pioneer in educational
methods.
Linnaeus2007 intends to continue
this tradition, and will create and
spread knowledge in the spirit of
Linnaeus.
Katarina Zacher and Angela Wulff on their
way to collect algae on King George Island,
Antarctica. Photographic rights held by
Angela Wulff.
We present here our exhibitors
and those active in science and
research. Many museums today
carry out some form of research,
and many researchers work with
outreach activities. We show here
examples of how these two groups
can enrich each other.
SCIENTIFIC CONFETTI
Carl Linnaeus is probably the most internationally well-known Swedish scientist. This
will be celebrated at our scientific institutions with activities that include open lectures,
scientific seminars, experiments, courses, rambles, scientific cafés, and exhibitions. The
greatness of Linnaeus as a scientist will be emphasized throughout Sweden and his
impressive lifetime achievements will illuminated from different viewpoints. We will be
offering programmes throughout the tercentenary year – from Antarctica, to university halls, safaris to track minute insects, and butterfly expeditions. More details can be
found in the section “Linnaeus2007 - Meet the Science”.
EXHIBITIONS - CREATIVE DIVERSITY
The exhibitions during the Linnaeus tercentenary are best described by the term “diversity”. It is clear that Carl Linnaeus retains to this day the ability to inspire. Exhibitors
from north to south and from east to west are right now creating exciting exhibitions
around a number of different themes associated with Linnaeus. The visitors that they
hope to attract vary just as much as the contents of the exhibitions. Children, young
people, the curious, those interested in culture, those interested in nature, and many
others – everyone can find some gem among the range that Sweden’s museums will be
offering next year. There are more than 50 exhibitions being planned or produced. The
glimpses on next page give some idea of the range from which you can choose.
MORE INFORMATION?
See www.linnaeus2007.se, click on “Exhibitions” or “Science/Research”.
seum for Mountain Life and Sami Culture
Linnaeus’ diary from his journey through Lapland forms the basis of Ájtte’s exhibition about Linnaeus’ meeting with Lapland and the Sami culture. The exhibition
takes an ethnobiological approach and describes Linnaeus’ deliberations concerning the plants, animals, people and landscape in the Lapp country. The exhibition
will open on 9 July 2007.
LINNAEUS’ LAPLAND: THE PEOPLE AND THE NATUTAL
WORLD Symposium, Jokkmokk, Ájtte, The Swedish Museum for
Mountain Life and Sami Culture
A symposium that describes the meeting with the Sami people, their knowledge
and the way they use the natural world. It describes, among other aspects, how
traditional knowledge can contribute today to the development of the countryside,
and how it can constitute an important factor in local cultural identity. The symposium will be arranged jointly by the Swedish Biodiversity Centre, The Linnaean
Society Polcirkeln, and The Swedish Museum for Mountain Life and Sami Culture,
and will take place on 25 – 26 July.
THE SWEDISH SPECIES INFORMATION CENTRE AND
UPPSALA UNIVERSITY Uppsala, The Swedish University of Agri-
cultural Sciences and Uppsala University
ArtDatabanken, which today leads and co-ordinates the Swedish species information project, is working with the Swedish Museum of Natural History on the
exhibition “From Linnaeus to DNA”. Work inventorying, surveying and naming
Sweden’s species continues in the spirit of Linnaeus. The activities of ArtDatabanken during Linnaeus2007 include, among other things, the scientific theatre show
“With Slime Moulds and Sea Slugs”, which is being produced through the year.
Researchers from Uppsala University are working with several of the exhibitions
of Linnaeus2007, including the ones in the Linneaum in the Botanical Gardens,
Evolutionmuseet and Museum Gustavianum. Conferences will attract researchers
from all over the world to Uppsala, and a series of lectures will present very varied
areas in the spirit of Linnaeus. Read more at www.uu.se/linne2007
FROM LINNAEUS TO DNA
Exhibition, Stockholm, The Swedish Museum of Natural History
“From Linnaeus to DNA” is an exhibition in three parts, focusing on systematic
biology. Linnaeus’ work will be described in the context of 18th century Sweden
and current research in systematic biology will be presented using experiences of
the diversity of nature. New tools give rise to new ways of continuing to follow
Linnaeus’ ambition to describe the biological diversity of the earth. The exhibition
will open on 13 March 2007.
GÖT(H)EBORG ACROSS THE OCEANS
Exhibition, Göteborg, Maritime Museum
The traditional image of the Swedish
East India Company is being broadened,
and the ship Götheborg will be examined in more detail. Linnaeus sent his
apostles on journeys with the East Indiaman ships in his eagerness to survey
the species of the earth. Journeys today
continue in the spirit of Linnaeus and
collect marine plants and animals. How
are their results related to the legacy of
Linnaeus? The exhibition will open on
28 April 2007.
The Kristineberg Marine Research Station
(KMF) is Sweden’s largest field station for marine
research. The work at KMF is focussed on marine
ecology and environmental research. The summer of
2007 offers the opportunity to listen to lectures for
the general public given by young Swedish researchers describing their research in an interesting and
readily understood manner, and the opportunity to
join the research vessel Arne Tiselius, viewing animals and plants in their natural habitat in the water.
You might even discover a new species!
THE RETURN OF LINNAEUS
Visby, The County Museum of Gotland
The exhibition reflects the island of Gotland that
Linnaeus found when he travelled here in 1741, and
the Gotland he would find today if he were to return. Despite major transformation of the landscape
and major transformations in the way people live,
Linnaeus would recognise the rare flowers, the downto-earth farmers and the cultured priests. Or would
he? The exhibition will open on 15 June 2007.
Botanists and zoologists before Linnaeus used what are known as “phrase
names” in Latin. Linnaeus introduced
the binary nomenclature in its place. A
binary name consists of a genus and a
specific name. For example, Linnaeus’
own flower, the twinflower, is known as
Linnaea borealis.
All new species that are described for
the first time, even today, are given a
name in this binary system. Two works
constitute the starting points for the
binary nomenclature: one for botany,
one for zoology:
Species Plantarum (1753) is the starting point for the naming of species
within botany with respect to plants
(except for, for example, mosses and
algae). This is the earliest publication that researchers today take into
consideration when describing newly
discovered plant species.
Systema Naturae (10th edition, 1758)
is in the same way the starting point
for naming within zoology (except for
spiders).
THE VISBY DAYS OF NATURE,
CULTURE AND SCIENCE
In association with the visit of the touring exhibition
Kaos von Linné on 5-7 July 2007 (see more details
on the next page) Visby will be host to some interesting days of science. The days are a joint production between the County Museum of Gotland and
Swedish Travelling Exhibitions, in collaboration with
The Swedish Research Council and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The Visby Days will take
place on 5-6 July in the newly reopened congress hall
Wisby Strand.
The 7 July is also a day not to be missed. It offers
eight different excursions around Gotland.
KILIAN STOBAEUS LIBRARY
Exhibition, Lund, University Library
Young Linnaeus’ first academic teacher was Professor Kilian Stobaeus in Lund. The professor owned
a library of 2,500 volumes, and this library was very
important for Linnaeus. Some of the volumes are
now in the Lund University Library, and they will
be exhibited together with documents that describe
their acquisition and their binding, and the traces that
Linnaeus has left in loan registers and books from
the academic year 1727-1728 in Lund. The exhibition
will open on 27 January 2007.
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT - WITH
THE ENVIRONMENT IN MIND!
Photographer: Anders Hofgren
Linnaeus and Today´s Systematic
Biology
Conference, Kalmar
The conference ”Tourism Development - With the
Environment in Mind” will be held in Kalmar on 19
- 20 April 2007. The conference will take up recent
research within the field of tourism by various researchers, including Stefan Gössling.
Photographer: Ulrika Mebus
Linnaeus2007 - Meet the Science
The Swedish Species Information
Centre, Formas, Göteborg University,
Högskolan Dalarna, Gotland University, University of Kalmar, Kristianstad University, Karolinska Institutet,
Royal Institute of Technology, The
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences,
Linköping University, Lund University,
The Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, The Swedish University of
Agricultural Sciences, Stockholms Akademiska Forum, Stockholm University,
Södertörn University College, Umeå
University, The Swedish Federation of
Young Scientists, Uppsala University,
Växjö University, Public and Science,
The International Science Festival, The
Swedish Research Council
Linnaeus2007 Exhibition Themes
A journey through Sweden with the
exhibitions as stopping points provides
a good overview of Carl Linnaeus and
his work. The scientist Linnaeus was a
product of his age. What characterised
the 18th century? Who was Linnaeus
and how was his work affected by the
age he lived in? His journeys through
Sweden will be celebrated at regional
level, and the 18th century will be used
as a reference point to discuss the
changes of time.
Curiosity into the natural world is a
property shared by Linnaeus and many
today, and this curiosity can be fed at a
wide range of exhibitions.
HE SPREAD KNOWLEDGE WITH
CHARISMA AND BOLDNESS
KAOS VON LINNÉ
ORGANISATION AND CONTACT INFORMATION
RESEARCH FOR THE PEOPLE
H M the King of Sweden is the Tercentenary patron. A National Linnaeus Commission is chaired by the Governor of Uppsala
County, Anders Björck. Deputy Director
General of the Swedish Research Council, Gunnel Gustafsson, is vice chair. The
Commission has been established by the
Swedish Research Council, on behalf of the
Swedish government.
An Touring Exhibition in Sweden and Abroad
A touring exhibition about organising the world – art, science and everyday life
in one amazing mix. The initiative is a joint Linnaeus2007 production between
Swedish Travelling Exhibitions and the County Museum of Gotland, in collaboration with The Swedish Research Council and the Royal Swedish Academy of
Sciences. More information, including the route and dates of performances, can
be found at www.linnaeus2007.se, under “Exhibitions”.
The spring and summer of 2007 will provide opportunities for exciting meetings between researchers and the public at, among other places, zoos and
amusement parks around the country. Visitors will be able to meet researchers
at work and ask questions. Look out for the special symbols and the words:
“Forskning för Folket”.
A freak of nature or storms on the sun? The accelerating greenhouse effect? Whatever
the reason, summer’s warmth has lasted well into October. The flower beds outside of
the Swedish Museum of Natural History are in full bloom, while the leaves of the ivy are
getting ready to change colour.
The museum is preparing for the exhibition “From Linnaeus to DNA”, which will
open in March 2007. Head of the Research Department at the museum Mari Källersjö
is today host to Carl-Olof Jacobson, Professor emeritus in zoology and chairman of the
Swedish Linnaean Society. Together they are to consider Linnaeus’ role as disseminator
of knowledge and the traces he has left behind for scientists of today. Carl-Olof starts by
considering Linnaeus’ way of communication:
- Linnaeus and his colleagues at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences started a
revolution when they wrote in Swedish. The Academy wanted to give life to the Swedish
economy again after the expensive wars of King Charles XII. Writing in Swedish meant
that Linnaeus was able to present his message and obtain financing from the Swedish
parliament. His language was unbelievably taut, and people throughout society were
interested in what he had to say.
Linnaeus corresponded with more than 600 people, at least 400 of them outside of
Sweden. It was not only researchers who were included in the network. Carl-Olof gives
an example from the correspondence with theologists: the charismatic Linnaeus was
worried about indiscriminate felling of trees in Sweden and strongly encouraged his correspondents to go out into their parishes and preach the importance of planting new saplings after a large felling operation. Direct, bold and enthusiastic. Linnaeus in a nutshell.
Linnaeus was indeed modern and innovative. He was the world’s first ecologist, long
before the concept even existed. He could easily have arrived at the theory of evolution,
and he had concluded that the creation had occurred over a long period and as a process
of competition. The thought of how far Linnaeus was ahead of his time wakens the
question of what he would have been capable of today. Mari describes him as a fully
involved person:
- He would certainly have been involved in flora and fauna projects in tropical
countries, and he would have nurtured biological diversity. And he would have loved the
internet! Just imagine being able to collect and spread information so rapidly and easily.
Mari points out that scientists today have many more tools that Linnaeus had. DNA
technology has created unheard of possibilities, for example. However, researchers today
experience similar limitations as Linnaeus may well have experienced. Even if it is possible to discover both relationships and differences in the natural world, it is still difficult
to explain how they arose. And paradoxically, the complexity of nature increases for each
new discovery that is made.
So what did Linnaeus bequeath to today’s scientists? Carl-Olof thinks it’s too bad
that Linnaeus does not come across as alive in today’s education. But one bequest is clear
– the excursions. Linnaeus took both students and others interested on excursions of
discovery in the natural world, and this is a method that is alive today.
- Excursions are still very important in education, both at the university and here
at the museum. It is important to be surprised. Look over there, for example, says Mari,
pointing at a group of young people outside the window in the glade behind the museum.
Those youngsters and the excursion leader have been there for quite a while now.
They are still engaged and curious. Who knows, maybe the Linnaeus or Linnea of the
future is among them.
Text and photo: Peter Stjernström
The locations where you can find researchers include: Öland Zoo and Amusement Park, Skansen, Skånes Djurpark - The Zoo of Nordic Animals, The Museum of Forestry in Lycksele, and the International Science Festival.
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GE HEALTHCARE ARE SPONSORING THE LINNAEUS
TERCENTENARY
GE Healthcare has become a principal sponsor of Linnaeus2007.
– We are very happy to contribute by sponsoring the Linnaeus tercentenary, since Linnaeus
was an early and clear example of how it is possible to create a global reputation based in
such a small country as Sweden, through pioneering contributions to research and development
within the life sciences, says Peter Ehrenheim, managing director of GE Healthcare
Life Sciences.
– GE Healthcare’s involvement has several aspects – it strengthens us within Linnaeus2007
and helps us to reach the goal of getting children and young people interested in science and
research. It also shows the weight that Linnaeus placed on business and science in a fruitful
alliance – and this is something that we in Linnaeus2007 also want to emphasize, says Anders Björck, chairman of the National Linnaeus Commission.
GE Healthcare has become a sponsor at the highest level - gold. SH Bygg is
a silver partner and several companies are bronze partners: the biotechnology
company Q-Med, allergy diagnosis company Phadia and IKEA.
POISED TO START!
Linnaeus2007 is poised for the starting gun on 28 January 2007. This will signal
the start of a year of celebration in Linnaeus’ spirit of curiosity, with many exciting activities based on science, history and the future. Linnaeus2007 aims to
broaden our image of Linnaeus and give it greater depth, while inspiring young
people to develop an interest in science.
LINNAEUS2007 SECRETARIAT
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Lilla Frescativägen 4a, PO Box 50005
SE- 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
Åse Berglund, General Secretary
+46-8-673 95 15, [email protected]
Dalarna, Erik Arrhén,
[email protected]
Gotland, Ulrika Mebus,
[email protected]
Kalmar/Öland, Susanne Forslund,
[email protected]
Linnaeus2007 in Northern Sweden
Jonas Lundqvist, [email protected]
Stockholm, Ingrid Dyhlén-Täckman,
[email protected]
Västra Götaland, Anders Bohlin,
[email protected]
NATIONAL SUBJECT COMMITTEES
Mats Bergquist, International Advisor
+46-8-673 95 00 (switchboard),
[email protected]
Gardens, Birgitta Sandström Lagercrantz
[email protected]
Kajsa Eriksson, Press Secretary
+46-8-673 95 00 (switchboard), [email protected]
Lena Stjernström, Marketing and Information
+46-709-969889, [email protected]
Exhibitions, Carina Bergqvist,
[email protected]
The Linnaeus Sites, Monika Minnhagen
-Alvsten, [email protected]
Science/Research, Mona Holmfors,
[email protected]
Erica Wright, Project Coordinator,
+46-8-673 97 12, [email protected]
Carl Carlheim-Gyllensköld, Project
Coordinator, +46-8-673 95 16, [email protected]
Gunnel Åhlberg, Administrator,
+46-8-673 95 64, [email protected]
Mikael Strandänger, Sponsors and Commercial Contacts, +46-70-591 14 81,
[email protected]
Widar Narvelo, Environmental Coordinator
+46-42-10 52 96,
[email protected]
REGIONAL CONTACTS
Kronoberg County
Christina Persson, [email protected]
Skåne County
Christer Hjort, [email protected]
Uppsala Municipality, Mariette Manktelow,
[email protected]
Music, Dance & Theatre, Annika Windahl
Pontén, [email protected]
Schools, Christer Hjort,
[email protected]
Public Education, Carl Carlheim-Gyllensköld,
[email protected]
Celebrations, Åse Berglund,
[email protected]
International activities, Mats Bergquist
[email protected]
WEB SITE: WWW.LINNAEUS2007.SE
NEWSLETTER PRODUCTION
Published by: Åse Berglund
Text and project management: Erica Wright
Editorial group:
Mona Holmfors, Carina Bergqvist, Lena Stjernström
Graphical design: Hugin & Munin/ Krux & Co
Published in 5,000 copies
Printed at: CM Gruppen
Uppsala University, Annika Windahl Pontén,
[email protected]
The tercentenary will be officially opened in Växjö, while Linnaeus’ actual date
of birth, 23 May, will be celebrated at his birthplace Råshult in Småland, and
in Uppsala, where Linnaeus lived and worked. The celebrations will end on 15
December in Jukkasjärvi in Lapland. Between these two events, many activities
will take place both in Sweden and abroad, from exhibitions to competitions for
young scientists.
Five national projects will be introduced: a garden inspired by Linnaeus at the
Chelsea Flower Show, a documentary film from seven continents, a travelling
exhibition, a package of educational material for schools, and an anniversary
book. All information about the sparkling tercentenary can be found at
www.linnaeus2007.se!
IKEA. Phadia. Q-Med
Egendomsnämnden i Växjö stift. Formas, Johnny Svensson Entreprenad, Kungafonden,
Kjell och Märta Beijers Stiftelse, Kungl. Vetenskapsakademien, Kungl. Vitterhetsakademien, Myndigheten för skolutveckling, Natur och Kultur, Ramböll, Riksbankens
Jubileumsfond, Sparbanksstiftelsen Kronan, Sparbanksstiftelsen Upland, Stiftelsen Erik
Johan Ljungbergs Utbildningsfond, Vetenskapsrådet, Vinnova.