IN A GARDEN THE WORLD BGBM Annual Report 2012 – 2014 1 BGBM Annual Report 2012 – 2014 Contents A 5 J 53 Introduction A Listed Garden B 7 K 55 BGBM at a Glance Sustainability C 9 L 56 Organisation Teaching & Training D 17 M 59 Research Friends & Supporters E 29 N 60 Biological Collections Facts & Figures Staff, affiliated scientists 60 F 39 Doctoral students 62 Library, Archives & Publishing Visiting scientists, grant holders 62 Volunteers 63 Voluntary Ecological Year 63 G 43 Publications 64 International Network Regularly updated online resources and databases 75 Research: Externally funded projects 78 Visitors to the herbarium 82 H 47 Collections 82 Museum, Exhibitions & Education Library 85 Museum 86 Press and public relations 87 I 51 Visitor numbers 88 Events & Visitors Events 88 Budget 89 4 5 A Introduction Berlin’s Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum is an institution with a rich heritage stretching back over more than three centuries. It boasts important collections, a fundamental role in the international network of scientific institutions involved in botanical evolutionary and biodi- versity research, and impressive parkland and greenhouses providing a place of relaxation and culture in Berlin. While this ‘Green Oasis’ is familiar to many Berliners, its enormous national and international importance as a scientific institute is less well known. The aim of this brochure, therefore, is not only to report on our activities in the years 2012 to 2014 but also to give readers a glimpse behind the scenes. During the years 2008 to 2012, the BGBM underwent an intensive process of organisational and structural development. These funda- mental changes are key to making the institution viable for the future and ready to face the raised expectations of society and politics. Cen- tral to this are our three closely related fields of activity: first, research and teaching in accordance with the core functions of a university; second, regional, national and international biodiversity programmes; Prof. Dr Thomas Borsch and third, educational provision in the field of botany and the envi- Director of the Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin ronment, coupled with the upkeep of a listed cultural asset and the development of an exceptional place of recreation. It is important that all three fields of activity enjoy equal status and are of mutual ben- The third field of activity involves further improving the experience for efit. Taken together, the collections are the prerequisite for fulfilling visitors, especially tourists. As a place that appeals to all the senses, a all these tasks and being able to execute them to a high standard. botanic garden cannot surely fail to inspire and delight a wide range of As a ‘central facility’ of Berlin’s Freie Universität (Free University), the target groups. The modern visitor information system that was intro- Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem is the largest duced with the renovation of the Main Tropical Greenhouse must now university-level natural history research collection in Germany and, as be extended to the whole garden, and what BGBM offers needs to be such, occupies a very special position. With 20,000 cultivated plant more strongly integrated into what Berlin as a whole offers in terms of species and more than 3.7 million specimens, the living collections culture and tourism. To this end, we have also set ourselves the task of and the herbarium are not only the most extensive in Germany but strengthening cooperation with other institutions in Berlin. among the most important in the world. I extend my heartfelt thanks to all the staff at the Botanic Garden and The first field of activity is concerned with pure research and high- Botanical Museum Berlin for their commitment and passion, to all er-level education, whereas the questions and goals of the second field funding agencies and sponsors. In the hope this report gives you inter- of activity, biodiversity programmes, are more firmly rooted in practice: esting insights into the work that we do, I wish you all an enjoyable read! here, applied research is undertaken in order to provide the scientific basis for the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity. Our ac- Sincerely, tivities in this field range from science via policy advice to concrete Thomas Borsch measures and projects, such as preserving genetic resources from wild plants. Both regional and international collaborations and institutional partnerships are therefore to be even more strongly encouraged, the BGBM seeing itself as a research partner in the field of plant biodiversi- ty and evolution. In this context, the digitisation and cataloguing of our collections in particular are to be systematically expanded. 6 BGBM AT A GLANCE 7 B BGBM at a Glance The Earth’s natural plant diversity is our thing. We document it in our plants from all over the world, are complemented by the museum collections, record and explore it in our research projects, and contrib- treatment of current topics in botany. To highlight this feature, both el- ute to its protection and sustainable use. The extensive plant collections ements form part of the name: Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum of the Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum are of global impor- Berlin. Since this name is a little long for use in everyday speech, the tance. More than 20,000 different plant species are cultivated in the abbreviation BGBM has been coined. garden, and the herbarium contains over 3.7 million specimens with some 40,000 type specimens: unique originals by reference to which The inextricability of garden and museum is both indispensable for plant species are first described and their scientific names established, researchers and of particular interest to visitors. Our visitors can expe- in other words a kind of ‘standard measure’. In addition to this, there rience and enjoy the entire plant kingdom here in an artfully designed are also valuable historical collections, such as part of the botanical col- setting. lection assembled by Alexander von Humboldt in Latin America. Last but not least, we have here one of the largest libraries of botanical lit- erature in Europe. These collections, together with modern research infrastructure and scientific expertise, make our institution both a point of contact and a key player in international biodiversity research. A unique feature is the conjunction of Botanic Garden and Botani- cal Museum. The large outdoor areas and greenhouses, stocked with Research and teaching core functions of the Freie Universtität Berlin Biodiversity Education programmes Culture regional The BGBM’s activities are grouped into national Recreation international three areas – research and teaching; biodiversity programmes; education, culture and recreation. All three are rooted in the collections. Collections 8 ORGANISATION Director: Prof. Dr Thomas Borsch Science Coordination Public Relations and Marketing Department Department Department Department Research & Biodiversity Biological Science Communication Administration & Informatics Collections Scientific Services Museum & General Asterales Living collections Exhibitions administration Caryophyllales Herbarium Education Laboratories Dahlem Library & Diatoms IT Seed Bank Archives Cuba & Caribbean DNA bank BGBM Press Project support Europe & Mediterranean Biodiversity informatics & scientific information systems Organigram of the BGBM central facility 9 C Organisation The Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum’s range of ac- One of the most important goals of the reorganisation tivities goes far beyond the core university functions of was the creation of workable areas of responsibility. The research and teaching. It also includes the development, entire institution and its staff were involved in the con- care, preservation and expansion of its collections. The ception and implementation of both the strategy and its BGBM is both an educational establishment and a place formulation. The entire development process was closely of recreation, thus occupying a special, overarching posi- followed by the various stakeholders, and strengths as well tion as a ‘central facility’ within Berlin’s Freie Universität. as weaknesses were identified in employee focus groups. The result of these participatory changes is a fresh-faced In order to manage the Botanic Garden and Botanical organisation with structures steeped in tradition. Museum’s diverse areas of responsibility effectively, im- provements were made in 2012 to the central facility’s or- Thus, even by the standards of other botanic gardens, ganisational structure (see organigram). These structural such as the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, or the New York changes were fundamental to ensuring the institution’s Botanical Garden, the BGBM is ready to face the future. future viability. The reorganisation has created manage- ment structures that are not only practicable and transpar- ent but also speed processes up. 10 ORGANISATION Department Research and Department Biological Collections Biodiversity Informatics The BGBM’s research department punches well above its weight. The BGBM’s collections are historical and at the same time part of More than 30 scientists work in six different research and develop- current research. They consist of the most diverse building blocks ment groups. Under the leadership of Professor Dr Walter Berend- and, taken together, are an important piece in the institution’s over- sohn, research is undertaken that is concerned with current botanical all mosaic.