Program Highlights
The Linnaeus-Manila Program: Highlights
In the Spirit of Linnaeus is a program designed to mark 300 years of the birth of Sweden’s most remarkable biologist—Carl Nilsson Linnaeus. The Linnaeus Program comprises twelve lectures to be given in a number of educational institutions in Manila.
Linnaeus, a Swedish explorer, biologist and taxonomist (1707-1778) is well known because of his systematic observation and description of living things in the 18th century. Above all, his persistent interest in Nature was to lead him to name and to classify all the living species then known.
Legendary were Linnaeus’ explorations across Scandinavia, particularly the one of Lapland in 1732, exploring northern Sweden and parts of what today are Norway and Finland. During his Iter Lapponicum, Linnaeus discovered a curious twin-flower and soon named it—Linnaea borealis. This trip was followed by the publication of a book Linnaeus devoted to the flora of Lapland (Flora Lapponica, 1737).
When coming back from his expeditions, Linnaeus usually brought back examples of the things he had found. He used to have a herbarium in which he pasted all kinds of plants, and he was fond of studying and describing them in detail.
One of Linnaeus’ main contributions to humanity is the invention of the concept species and the subsequent naming of them according to a binary nomenclature he created as well. His taxonomic system encourages international dialog between researchers, as it gives each species a unique name, transcending all local names and denominations. With its characteristic two-part Latin name, the binomial system Linnaeus devised is used by all scientists today.
Another contribution of Linnaeus to humanity is a monumental work entitled Systema Naturae (first published in 1735). There, he described, named and classified the species of the three natural kingdoms: mineral, vegetable and animal. In the final edition of Systema Naturæ (1768), the binary naming system is for the first time applied to all the then-known living things—7,700 vegetables and 4,400 animals.
In botanical terms, fundamental is Linnaeus’ system of plant classification. Indeed, he developed a remarkable system that comprises 24 classes, each relating to the sexual parts of a flower (number, arrangement and disposition). Today, his work Species Plantarum of 1753 is internationally agreed as the starting point of modern botanical nomenclature.
Also in zoology, Linnaeus contribution is original and remarkable. Linnaeus classified many animals considering six main categories: mammalia (mammals), aves (birds), amphibia (amphibians), pisces (fish), insecta (insects) and vermes (worms). The 10th edition of his Systema Naturae (1758) is internationally accepted as the starting point of modern zoological nomenclature.
Linnaeus traveled and researched the flora and fauna of Sweden, the Low Countries, Denmark, Germany, France and England. With the aim of cataloguing and classifying all the species created by God, he encouraged and supported seventeen of his students to travel across the globe to discover, describe and depict many unknown plants and animals.
It is thanks to such unprecedented an enterprise that a great number of the fruits of the Philippines have received their names. Coconut, papaya, sweet apple, mango, grapefruit, melon, banana, cashew, tamarind, rambutan, pineapple and dalandan, all of them have been named by Linnaeus and are scientifically known via the names Linnaeus gave to them three centuries ago.
Because of the impact of linnaeus' systematic research and unique contribution to humanity, he was raised to nobility in 1751. Next generations were glad to depict Linnaeus honored by the gods.
To understand Linnaeus’ contribution thoroughly, we should put it in its proper historical context—the eighteenth century, an age of reason, encyclopedia and balloon, and perhaps the most illuminating century humankind ever had.
The educational lectures “In the Spirit of Linnaeus” also explore the idea of order, the art of classification and its inherent difficulties, the biological hybrid and its artistic counterpart, and Linnaeus’ earliest and most mysterious manuscript —The Linnaeus Code (1725).
14 Given man’s persistent damage of the only planet we have, The Linnaeus Program to Manila stresses the importance of Ecology, of improving the environment and preserving life in all its diversity. Students are invited to participate in the Linnaeus Program Contest, writing an essay on “The Importance of Ecology.”
15 Last but not least, The Linnaeus Tercentenary Program has its source of inspiration in a maxim by the great Swedish explorer, physicist, researcher, biologist and teacher Carl Linnaeus: “Nothing is more precious than life.”
Acknowledgments: Embassy of Sweden, Manila, www.swedenabroad.com/manila; The Swedish Institute, Stockholm, www.si.se : ©Ölands Turist, “Peacock Butterfly,” photo by Anders Johansson; © Mikael Dubois/Johnér, Thorsten Henn/Nordic Photos, [Pines in Winter] and © Bengt Olof Olsson/Bildhuset, “Blue Anemones” (Agneta Lilja and Po Tidholm, Celebrating the Swedish Way, Stockholm: The Swedish Institute, 2004, pp. 5, 15); “Linnaea boralis” (Sven Hörnel, Subarktiskt land, Sweden, 1991, p. 143); Gunnar Broberg, Carl Linnaeus, Stockholm: The Swedish Institute, 2006; Wilfrid Blunt, Linnaeus: The Compleat Naturalist, London: Frances Lincoln, 2004; Jan Peter-Lahall, Enchanted Land: Pictures from Nature in Sweden, Örebro and Uppsala, 1999; Doreen G. Fernandez, Fruits of the Philippines, Makati City:Bookmark, 1997.
The Linnaeus-Manila Program. Carl Nilsson Linnaeus / Carolus Linnaeus / Carl von Linné. 1707-1778. Tercentenary Celebrations in Manila, Philippines. Education. Lectures. Science and Art. Biology. Botany. Zoology. Naming / Taxonomy. Classification. Quotation. Idea and research, compilation and selection, general layout and sequence, graphic design and digital collages: Mariano Akerman (Akermariano), Buenos Aires and Manila,2006-2007.
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Super interesting, Mariano. I knew Linneaus vaguely for the classification of the species, but he didn't mean much to me, just another name. It is fascinating to get into the world of such very special people. The more you know, the more you want to keep on learning. I can see your passion here, and of course it shows in your art. Fascinating post, Mariano. So you are ready to "jump" into the great rollercoaster of this great project..!!! (well, you already jumped in it when you started preparing it.. Now it is the culmination and the 'results' of such an immense research and the connection with art..). Congratulations Mariano. I think your students will enjoy it a lot [SMILE] gab [SMILE] |
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[HEART] I am glad that you enjoy what I do. Moreover, I love your words. Thank you so much. |
To highlight these two momentous events, the Embassy of Sweden in Manila together with Mr. Mariano Akerman, Researcher and Lecturer, will organize a series of lectures with different universities and educational institutions entitled In the Spirit of Linnaeus, a Tercentenary Lectures on Science and Art from 11 January to 22 February 2007 that will enhance Linnaeus' consistent contribution in the field of systematic research. We hope that these will contribute to a better understanding of the world that surrounds us as a result of Linnaeus' curiosity and inventiveness.
The qualities for which Carl Linnaeus, Sweden’s most famous and outstanding scientist of all time, is still remembered – innovation, creativity, progressiveness – are qualities which people around the world associate with Sweden. Perhaps, some people look at him primarily as a traveller and explorer of his own country while to others he is the father of the modern classification of flora and fauna. But he was also an inspiring teacher who sent his students on voyages of scientific discovery all over the world.
He lived at a time of enormous discovery when science was seeking to explain the world around us. His untiring and resolute endeavours in the description of the living world laid the groundwork for the modern international scientific systems of classification and naming of animals and plants. He lived at a time, possibly the very last time, when one person could accomplish this single-handedly provided he was willing to pay the price. The price was a heavy one - for much of his life, he was financially insecure and his health suffered due to overwork.
We would like to take this opportunity to encourage you to participate in the Linnaeus Lecture series. Your unwavering support to promote inter-disciplinary involvement and the exchange of ideas in the Linnaeus Forum will indeed increase the interest of our young people in science and research."
Source: Embassy of Sweden, Manila, 2 January 2007.