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Institute of Systematics & Evolution of Animals


History The Building

Following all these stormy political events, both the name and affiliation of our institution were also subject to a number of changes during its above 130 years history. Interestingly, most decisions on these alterations were made by strangers rather than by the Institute's authorities.


Introduction

The Institution presently known as the Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals is the oldest research establishment of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

It was founded in 1865, as the Physiographic Commision, by the Cracow Scientific Society. The Natural History Museum, an integral part of our Institute, was founded at the same time under the original name of Physiographic Museum.
In the time when the Institute was founded, Poland was not an independent country and Cracow was governed from Vienna. After the first world war Poland regained its independence, but after the second world war it faced strong influence from the Great Brother - fortunately, not for ever! At the same time, our country experienced benefits of several different political systems, from peculiarities of the early capitalism to blessings of the so called "People's Democracy" ... and so forth.


Date Name Affiliation
1865 Physiographic Commision
= Komisja Fizjograficzna
Cracow Scientific Society
= Towarzystwo Naukowe Krakowskie
1872 Academy of Sciences and Letters
= Akademia Umiejętności
1918 Polish Academy of Sciences and Letters
= Polska Akademia Umiejętności
1953 Cracow Branch of the Zoological Institute in Warsaw
= Oddział Krakowski Instytutu Zoologicznego w Warszawie
Polish Academy of Sciences
= Polska Akademia Nauk
1962 Institute of Systematic Zoology
= Zakład Zoologii Systematycznej
1969 Institute of Systematic and Experimental Zoology
= Zakład Zoologii Systematycznej i Doświadczalnej
1989 Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals
= Instytut Systematyki i Ewolucji Zwierząt

To be continued...

RECOMMENDED READINGS

Kościuszko H., Pawłowski J. 1995.
The Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals of the Polish Academy of Sciences. 130 Years of Research Tradition. Wydawnictwa ISiEZ PAN, Kraków.

Pawłowski J. 1994-95.
Historia Krakowskiego Muzeum Przyrodniczego: (1)-(12). Wszechświat 95(7-8)...96(7-8).

Nadachowski A. 2002.
The Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals. The beginning of the twentry-first century. In: Research instituts and scientific commisions, Cracow Branch of the Polish Academy of Sciences., Polska Akademia Nauk Oddzial w Krakowie, 105-120.