LATEST NEWS

If you are interested in taking part in a pilot program to provide cost-free language support to potential authors of manuscripts in Evolution, please read on!

The Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE) and the journal Evolution are committed to reducing barriers to scientific publishing and access. Evolution publishes exclusively in English, which can present additional challenges to authors for whom English is an additional language. The EELS program aims to provide an opportunity for additional support to such authors. EELS will offer the opportunity for English language editing to authors submitting articles to Evolution, with the aim of improving the clarity of writing prior to manuscript review. The EELS program stems from discussions between the SSE Diversity Committee and the Evolution Editors, and is based on the Language Editor position at the American Society of Mammalogists. We will assess its effectiveness after a one-year pilot test. Applications for the EELS Editors will be collected on a rolling basis. Applications for the EELS Coordinator are due May 1, 2022. Applications for EELS Editors are due July 1, 2022.

Continue reading to learn more about the positions and how to apply.

Are you a biologist who studies the diversity of sex, gender, and sexualities in nature? Does your work explore inclusive and accurate ways to teach about these subjects? Are you thinking about attending the Evolution 2022 meeting in Cleveland, OH, USA?

The organizers are seeking 3-4 evolutionary biologists to give short, engaging, general audience talks (akin to a TED talk) at an LGBTQ+ event called "Evolution's Rainbow" at this year’s Evolution conference. The event will also include a panel Q&A session with our presenters. Our aim is to create a light-hearted and informative evening that inspires curiosity and facilitates dialogue on the exceptional diversity of sex, gender, and sexualities in nature. We are particularly excited to hear from a diversity of voices and encourage applications from speakers from historically excluded groups. This event will be open to all Evolution goers and the general public. Proceeds from the evening will be donated to the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland.

To apply, please send a 150-200 word brief pitch for your talk to diversity@evolutionsociety.org by April 29, 2022.

The Graduate Student Advisory Council (GSAC) is looking for two new council members for the upcoming year!

The GSAC represents student and postdoc interests to the SSE Council and facilitates interaction among students and postdocs, and between students, postdocs, and mentors. Our goal is to be a source of information for students and postdocs during their graduate school career and as they make career transitions, and to provide an early-career perspective to the rest of the SSE council. 

Learn more and apply by April 15.

In the New Faculty Profiles, we invite highlighted faculty to discuss their research, describe how SSE has impacted their career, and share any tips or stories they may have for other researchers. This month we highlight Dr. Moisés Expósito-Alonso.

SSE Council is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2022 SSE Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr. Marcus Feldman. 

Dr. Feldman is the Burnet C. and Mildred Finley Wohlford Professor of Biology, founder and director of the Morrison Institute for Population and Resource Studies, and co-director of the Center for Computational, Evolutionary and Human Genomics at Stanford University. His innovative research has contributed to our understanding of the evolution of recombination and sex, human population genetics, niche construction, and evolutionary theory. With Dr. Luca Cavalli-Sforza, Dr. Feldman also developed a new field termed cultural evolution, which studies how genetic and cultural variation can interact and affect one another. Over the course of his career, he has mentored numerous trainees, from high school students to postdocs, and was awarded the Allan V. Cox Medal for Fostering Undergraduate Research at Stanford and  the Stanford Biosciences Excellence in Mentoring and Service Award. In 1970, he co-founded the journal Theoretical Population Biology. He was also the Editor of The American Naturalist from 1984 to 1990. Dr. Feldman was named the Dan David Laureate in Evolution in 2011, and received the Motoo Kimura Prize in Human Evolution in 2016.

The SSE Public Policy Committee is pleased to offer grants to SSE members to attend advocacy events, including the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) 2022 Virtual Advocacy Event, comprised of a Communications Boot Camp for Scientists (April 25-26, 2022), a half-day training session on how to be an effective advocate for science policy, and virtual meetings with lawmakers organized by AIBS (April 27-29). Scientists and graduate students who are interested in communicating the importance of federal investments in scientific research and education to lawmakers are encouraged to participate in this valuable workshop. Funding will cover the cost of registration. Members interested in applying these funds to other opportunities related to advocacy are also welcome to apply. 

To apply, please complete this application including a brief (<250 words) statement describing your interest in participating in federal policy making and what issues you would like to address. We especially encourage applications from individuals belonging to historically excluded groups. The deadline to apply has been extended to March 6, 2022. Read statements from previously funded participants here.

On February 7, 2022, SSE, the Society of Systematic Biologists, and American Society of Naturalists invited comments from our members on proposed Codes of Ethics for each society. Adopting such codes will allow the societies to establish explicit standards of excellence and a transparent process for upholding these standards, and in so doing, foster societies that are welcoming for everyone. Please see below for a letter of support for adopting the SSE Code of Ethics from the SSE Diversity Committee and the SSE Graduate Student Advisory Council. 

We invite you to review the standards and processes and indicate your support and/or concerns before March 7, 2022.

31 January 2022

The development of the joint SSE/SSB/ASN Code of Ethics is a major step forward in our efforts towards improving equity and inclusion in the field of evolutionary biology and within our societies. The Diversity Committee and Graduate Student Advisory Council of the SSE strongly support its development and implementation.

While many professional societies, our own included, have survived with an inconsistently enforced, unwritten code of ethics, the formalization of an ethical code sets the standard for behaviors that are and are not acceptable in professional and social contexts, whether in person, in writing, or in a virtual setting. Having a transparent and standardized code of ethics clarifies the boundaries of appropriate behavior to all society members, including society leaders and those involved with the societies, thereby removing the temptation of allowing unethical behavior to continue simply because it reflects historical norms. A code of ethics ensures concrete accountability (with potential sanctions listed in the code) when members harm others or the Society through violations of these ethical codes. It provides a venue for reporting unethical behavior, which is a key form of support for people who are common targets of ethical violations, including people from historically excluded groups and early career researchers. Importantly, a code of ethics also provides a framework from which society leadership can fairly assess or address ethical violations, with clear descriptions of the evaluation process and explicit mechanisms for appealing outcomes.

Although it could be argued by some as regrettable that these boundaries need to be laid out in a concrete fashion, a robust and enforceable code of ethics, as laid out and implemented here, benefits the safety and wellbeing of all members of our society and all individuals involved with the society. We welcome its development. We encourage all society members, and indeed all individuals associated with the society, to read the Code of Ethics and provide any suggestions or feedback that might clarify and improve it. Following the incorporation of input from members of the society, we encourage you to support adopting the Code of Ethics and commit to putting it into practice in your own lives and work.

Signed,

The Diversity Committee, Society for the Study of Evolution
The Graduate Student Advisory Council, Society for the Study of Evolution

This program provides up to $1,000 USD in funding for local and regional outreach activities, including but not limited to public lectures, exhibits, student competitions, and professional development events for teachers. Proposals are due March 6, 2022. Learn more about how to apply here.

Earlier this month, the SSE Council met virtually for the annual mid-year meeting, which complements the annual Council meeting which occurs in conjunction with the Evolution meeting. Some highlights from the meeting:

• The Code of Ethics committee proposed a Code of Ethics for SSE, which we invite you to review. ASN and SSB have also proposed Codes of Ethics.


• An ad hoc committee proposed an updated Constitution and Bylaws that better reflect the organizational structure of the Society and more closely adhere to common standards for formatting and content of such documents (read more here).


• The SSE Education and Outreach Committee announced plans for this year’s Undergraduate Diversity at Evolution program. 


• The Diversity Committee reported on their many in-progress initiatives, including the results of the tri-society climate survey conducted last year, efforts to increase equity and inclusion in awarding, publishing, and Council processes, and ongoing work with Diversity Consultant Dr. Kim Mulligan.


• Diversity Consultant Dr. Kim Mulligan led a visioning session to establish Council’s goals for SSE and develop a vision and mission statement for the Society. Stay tuned for more details on and results from these efforts. 

Last year, SSE celebrated its 75th anniversary. As part of this celebration, SSE hosted a symposium at the 2021 Virtual Evolution meeting to commemorate this anniversary with a series of talks representing SSE’s long-standing and continuing commitment to expanding evolutionary understanding. The papers collected in this special issue will present the work of the symposium speakers, including Amanda K. Gibson, John Beatty, Martha Munoz, Brandon Ogbunu, and Noah Whiteman. Keep an eye out for this special issue, to be released later this year with an introduction by María Rebolleda-Gómez and former SSE President Ruth Shaw.

The Evolution conference is the joint annual meeting of the American Society of Naturalists, the Society for the Study of Evolution, and the Society of Systematic Biologists. The meeting is one of the premiere opportunities for sharing research on evolutionary biology each year. 2022 is currently planned as a hybrid meeting, with a 2-day virtual conference (June 21-22) followed by the standard 4-day in-person meeting (June 24-28), provided it is safe to meet in person. More details will be provided soon.

Last year, SSE Council formed an ad hoc committee to review the Society’s Constitution and Bylaws, which were found to be inconsistent with standard structure and content of governance documents for non-profit organizations. The committee has recommended changes to improve the clarity and organization of these documents. These changes have already been approved by Council. Changes to the Bylaws can be enacted following a vote from Council, but all changes to the SSE Constitution must also be approved by the membership. Keep an eye out for a vote via email in the coming weeks. 

The Undergraduate Diversity at Evolution (UDE) program sends undergraduate students to the annual Evolution meeting, where they will present a poster; receive mentoring from graduate students, postdocs, and faculty; and participate in a career-oriented 'Undergraduate Futures in Evolutionary Biology' panel and discussion. The program is funded by SSE and the BEACON Center for Evolution in Action. Applications are due Sunday, March 27. Learn more and apply on the website.

In 2018, SSE announced a tri-society initiative to develop a Code of Ethics for SSE, the Society of Systematic Biologists, and the American Society of Naturalists. While behavior at the annual Evolution meeting falls under a Code of Conduct, the societies currently have no policies regarding conduct outside the meeting. Adopting Codes of Ethics will allow the societies to establish explicit standards of excellence and a transparent process for upholding these standards, and in so doing, foster societies that are welcoming for everyone. The three societies have now each drafted their own Codes of Ethics, which have been approved by the Councils of each society. Before each Code is put into place, we are seeking our members’ feedback and approval. 

We invite you to visit the Code of Ethics website, review the standards of conduct and processes for enforcement, ask any questions you may have, and give your feedback before March 7, 2022. Thank you for your participation!

Congratulations to our new Council members: President-Elect Kelly Zamudio, Non-North American Vice President Hanna Kokko, Treasurer Courtney Murren, Councilors Regina Baucom, and Daniel Bolnick, and Angélica Cibrián-Jaramillo, and GSAC Chair-Elect Robert Driver.

To nominate yourself or someone else for Council, please complete this form. All nominations received by March 1 will be considered for this year’s slate.

Starting in April, Evolution will accept two new article types: Evolution Insights and Evolution Reviews. Reviews will synthesize research fields and provide novelty through new or significantly updated research syntheses and will be limited to 4500 words. Insights will provide insights or summaries of emerging hot topics, observations, theory, controversies, and new and unresolved questions, and will be limited to 1500 words. Learn more about Evolution’s other article types here.

The deadline to submit a nomination for the 2022 Dobzhansky Prize has been extended to February 14, 2022. This award recognizes the accomplishments and future promise of an oustanding evolutionary biologist who has received their PhD within the last four years. The recipient will receive $5000 USD and will present the Dobzhansky Prize talk at the annual Evolution meeting. Learn more here.

Congratulations to the twelve recipients of the 2021 Rosemary Grant Advanced Awards, part of the Graduate Research Excellence Grants. This year’s recipients are Colby Behrens, Ying Chen, Derek Denney, Tanmay Dixit, Robert Driver, Santiago Herrera-Álvarez, Hanna Makowski, Manish Pathak, Rozenn Pineau, Rosalyn Price-Waldman, Jill Sanderson, and William Thomas.

These grants are funded in part by donations from our members to the Rosemary Grant Advanced Award funds and the George W. Gilchrist Student Support Fund. This year's George W. Gilchrist Student Support Fund recipient is Derek Denney.

The deadline for the ASN/SSE/SSB Inclusiveness, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Award has been extended to February 1, 2022. The IDEA Award will be given to a person at any career stage who has strengthened the ecology and evolutionary biology community by promoting inclusiveness and diversity in our fields.  The award can also be presented to a group. Learn more and submit your nomination here.

The Society for the Study of Evolution is pleased to announce the 2022 R. C. Lewontin Early Award competition. These grants are part of the Graduate Research Excellence Grants award program and are for students in the 1st or 2nd year of their PhD program. Awards will range from $1,500 to $2,500. Proposals will be due February 23. Learn more here.

Earlier this year, the SSE Evolution Journal Taskforce distributed a survey to members of SSE and the European Society of Evolutionary Biologists (ESEB) to collect feedback from the community on authors' perspectives on the journal Evolution and priorities when choosing where to publish. Your feedback is now being used to devise new initiatives to increase quality submissions from existing and new audiences and improve the journal reputation and author experience. Thank you to all who participated! 

Review the full data, or read the text summary here.

Evolution Letters seeks to fill three positions to begin early 2022: Communications Editor, Preprints Editor, and Associate Editor. 

1. The Communications Editor will work with our authors to help promote new research to wider audiences. The role will be particularly well suited to an early career evolutionary biologist with a keen interest in science communication.


2. The Preprints Editor help identify exciting preprints that fit the journal’s remit and scope. The role will be suited to a mid-career evolutionary biologist with a keen eye for the best research across the field of evolutionary biology and a reputation for producing high-quality research.


3. The Associate Editor should be an individual whose research expertise includes experimental evolution. The role will be suited to an early-, mid- or late-career group leader who has a reputation for carrying out cutting-edge research using any experimental evolution system.

Applications are due Friday, 17 December. Continue reading to learn more.

The SSE Diversity Committee (DC) seeks to add two new members starting in late January of 2022. The DC works to support members from all backgrounds through several main actions: by broadening representation to the SSE Executive Council, by pursuing initiatives that support historically excluded groups, and by creating an inclusive, accessible environment at the Evolution conference and in evolutionary biology in general. 

Applications are due December 20. Continue reading to learn more.

We are pleased to announce the results of this year’s election for SSE Council. Please join me in welcoming Kelly Zamudio (President-Elect), Courtney Murren (Treasurer), Hanna Kokko (Non-North American Vice President), and Councilors Angélica Cibrián-Jaramillo, Daniel Bolnick, and Regina Baucom. These positions will start January 1, 2022. Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s election!

The Evolution Joint Meeting Committee is pleased to welcome two new Assistant Chief Meeting Organizers: Brian Hollis and Alex Wong. With Chief Meeting Organizer Howard Rundle, the new organizers will help plan and run the annual Evolution meeting, including producing the scientific program and interfacing with the society councils and the professional conference organizer. Thank you Dr. Hollis and Dr. Wong for your commitment!