Species are the basic unit of biodiversity. Without species, we could not talk about nature, we could hardly enjoy its benefits and protect ourselves from disease.
Vernacular names of species are helpful, but inadequate. For example, Slovenian vernacular names for the English primrose include bičica, brkončica, igelc, jaglič, piskalica, žoltica, trobentica…
While a plethora of names enriches the language, it also gives rise to communication issues. This is why natural scientists of today use a two-part scientific taxonomy of species that was introduced in the 18th century by Carl von Linné, a Swedish scientist. The English primrose thus has the scientific name Primula vulgaris.
Less famously, his contemporary working in Slovenia, Giovanni Antonio Scopoli, contributed substantially to Linné’s classification with scientific descriptions and species names from the territory that is now Slovenia.
2023 will present an opportunity to mark the 300th anniversary of Scopoli’s birth and the historic role of this scientist of world renown working in Slovenia.
Researchers of the Biotechnical Faculty will celebrate the anniversary of his birth with activities including an interactive presentation on the historical development and importance of biological systematics, an exhibition, an informative brochure, guided workshops as part of biology classes in selected schools and a guided tour and discussion during the European Researchers’ Night.
Coordinators: Peter Trontelj, PhF, and Iztok Tomažič, PhD, Biotechnical Faculty