American Society of Naturalists

A membership society whose goal is to advance and to diffuse knowledge of organic evolution and other broad biological principles so as to enhance the conceptual unification of the biological sciences.

Marc Mangel

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Marc Mangel at the Hague for testimony.
Marc Mangel at the Hague for testimony.

I was interested in the conceptual unification of the biological sciences (particularly linking across different levels of biological organization in ecology, evolution, and behavior) before I knew about the ASN, so discovering the society and journal was like finding unknown relatives. In doing so, I work to bring first class basic science to important applied problems.

Recently, I developed an interest in the interface between science and law, as a result of being asked by the Government of Australia in 2010 to serve as an Independent Scientific Expert in its case in the International Court of Justice Whaling in the Antarctic: Australia v. Japan: New Zealand Intervening concerning whether the Japanese special permit whaling program is for purposes of scientific research or not. I gave evidence before the Court when it heard the case in June and July 2013. Details about the case can be found the ICJ web site. The hearings are available as a recorded webcast (VOD) on the United Nations Web TV website.