Earth Sciences Professor chairs international fossil plant committee

Martin J. Head, Professor and Chair of Earth Sciences has been invited to chair the Committee for Fossil Plants, a standing committee of the International Association for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT). 

This committee has about 15 members worldwide and provides recommendations to the IAPT on the scientific naming and renaming of fossil plants.  The IAPT itself promotes international cooperation between botanists and paleobotanists, and formulates rules that govern the way all living and fossil plants are named. 

Prior to serving as chair in February, Martin had been a voting member of the Committee for Fossil Plants since 2002.