[Taxacom] EJT, European journal for taxonomy : call for papers

[dipteryx at freeler.nl]

Indeed the ICBN does not use the words "permanent scientific record"
- I used this phrase because this is a mixed list (which causes
misunderstandings often enough; it is very hard to make statements
that apply across more than one Code) - but this is very much what
Art. 29.1 is all about.

It will be very interesting to see what happens with the proposals
for electronic publication; I would not dare to make a prediction,
but at least they are off to a good start with the Committee 
operating so harmoniously (which is not always the case with 
Committees instituted by the Nomenclature Section!).

Paul

BTW: and yes, the BHL is a god-send to many, although I am noticing
a shift; at first I was always glad with any publication which I could
turn up at BHL, and now I am sometimes disappointed at publications
that are not (yet) included. A matter of raised expectations ...


-----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
Van: Paul Kirk [mailto:p.kirk at cabi.org]
Verzonden: do 30-6-2011 10:23

I understand Art. 29.1 all too well ... but it's out of step with reality - hence the e-publication proposal to be debated (and, I assume, voted positively on) in about 20 days time ... :-)

The 'Libraries accessible to botanists generally' have been replaced by the Web ... specifically the BHL and the other digital archives (I have used BHL twice this morning to research a nomenclatural problem); a proportion of the 'new kids on the block', recently graduated, have never been in a 'physical' Library - this proportion will only increase, dramatically, in the next 5-10 years. And, the BHL is a god-send to the vast majority of systematists outside Europe (esp. NW) and North America.

I do not find reference to a requirement for a 'permanent scientific record' in the ICBN - perhaps I missed it. The primary function of the ICBN, imho, is to support 'stability of naming taxonomic groups' [nomenclature supports taxonomy] ... it does this by the type method and priority of publication - if the type method and priority of publication are contrary to stability the Code provides mechanism for dealing with this. The date of a name is that appearing with the name when it is made public - if there is doubt or ambiguity this can be fixed by applying the Code.

Paul

-----Original Message-----
From: taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu [mailto:taxacom-bounces at mailman.nhm.ku.edu] On Behalf Of dipteryx at freeler.nl
Sent: 30 June 2011 09:01
To: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
Subject: Re: [Taxacom] EJT, European journal for taxonomy : call for papers

I don't think that the original meaning of publication - to make public - has ever been abandoned. However, for the publication of a scientific name this is only one of two components. The other is establishing a "permanent scientific record", which is the technically hard part (hence all the discussion): see Art. 29.1 of the botanical Code.

Paul