The ZSSA is proud to announce the attendance of the
following plenary speakers at the 33rd bi-annual meeting:

Prof. John C. Avise (USA)
Prof. Dr Herman J.P. Eisjackers (Netherlands)
Dr William F. Humphreys (Australia)

John C. Avise is currently Distinguished Professor of Ecology and Evolution at the University of California at Irvine. He holds a B.S. degree in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan, a M.A. in Zoology from the University of Texas, and a Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of California at Davis. He spent much of his career (30 years) at the University of Georgia, before moving to his present position in 2005.
Most of the work in Avise's laboratory involves the use of genetic markers (e.g. allozymes, microsatellites, and mitochondrial DNA) to analyze the natural histories and evolution of wild animals. Topics range from micro- to macro-evolutionary: genetic parentage, mating patterns, geographic population structure, gene flow, hybridization, introgression, phylogeography, speciation, systematics, and phylogenetics. Research has been conducted on all major vertebrate groups plus some invertebrates, and has involved taxa from marine, freshwater, and terrestrial realms. The primary goal is to unveil ecological, behavioral, or evolutionary features of the organisms themselves, but an important secondary concern is to elucidate molecular and evolutionary properties of protein and DNA molecules. The theory and practice of evolutionary genetics are relevant to ecological issues and to conservation biology, two areas that provide an underlying theme for much of Avise's research. He has also written extensively on the relevance of evolutionary genetics to human affairs including the science-religion interface, genetic engineering, humor in science, and other social issues.
Avise has published nearly 300 scientific papers, plus twelve books (see below). He is an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Ornithologists' Union, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. He has served on the editorial boards of 15 scientific journals, and has been President of the Society for the Study of Evolution, the American Genetic Association, and the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution. He has won many distinctions including a Sloan Fellowship in Molecular Evolution, the Wilhelmine Key Award from the American Genetic Association, the William Brewster memorial Award from the American Ornithologists' Union, the Caesar Kleberg Foundation medal for Wildlife Conservation, a Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation, the Molecular Ecology Prize for career-long contributions to molecular ecology, and the Alfred Russel Wallace Award for career contributions to biogeography.

Herman Eijsackers is currently chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee of Wageningen University and Research Center, that advises the University Council on the direction and quality of research and teaching. He was also scientific director of the Environmental Sciences Group and Alterra WUR. Herman was extraordinary professor at the Vrije Universiteit te Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Stellenbosch University (South Africa). He is also member of several advisory committees (Raad voor Ruimtelijk, Milieu en Natuur Onderzoek, Health Council, Innovation Network, Cie MER) and is actively involved in several program commissions of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research in the fields of biodiversity, ecological effects of diffuse pollution sources and gamma environmental research. In addition he was chairman of the Nederlands Ecological Society and vice-chairman of WWF-Nederland.
His research is focused on the field of soil ecology, ecotoxicology, nature and environmental control. He did active research on the influence of earthworms and other soil organisms of soil vitality, on the threat posed by soil pollution (heavy metals, copper-based fungicides and herbicides like 2,4,5-T) and on the effects of imported trees (Prunus serotina) on forest soil ecosystems. Further research on environmental policy concentrated on the interactions between society, research and policy. Herman is also very interested in the spatial aspects of ecological environmental problems and the interaction between beta-and gamma-sciences on this area.
Apart from authoring a significant number of scientific articles, he was editor of five books in the fields of applied ecology, soil protection research, soil ecotoxicology and, most recently, “Vital Soil” (2004).