SEB Moves to London
Following on from the signing of the "Memorandum of Understanding" on future activities between the Society for Experimental Biology, the Biochemical Society and the British Ecological Society, it was agreed that the societies would finalize and implement a plan that has been on the cards and talked about for a number of years before now - that all the societies would move into one office together! So, after many a discussion, a little arguing and some very long days surveying prospective buildings and locations, the societies came across one that would maybe, just maybe, fit the bill and accommodate all the societies requirements - a difficult task when considering options for a single organization, let a alone 3!
Having said that though, now, after many months of planning, construction, site visits and negotiation, the move has gone ahead, and so, the Society bid farewell to its Southampton Offices on Friday the 28th of November, and began December 2009 within the walls of the charming Charles Darwin House in Holborn, alongside the British Ecological Society and the Biochemical Society.
The Tri-Society "move in" process has been "kicked about" for a few years now but was never settled on due to a number of passing reasons. However, early 2009/late 2008, the notion was discussed again, with a view to having a more realistic outcome than 'just another discussion', and because of happy circumstance, all three societies were able to commit to the move. Better yet, the credit crunch and the collapse of the UK property market along with 3 persuasive Chief Executives was enough to convince the relevant society councils that buying an office jointly was more cost effective than renting.
Despite the joint move, the societies are not amalgamating and continue to run as 3 separate Learned Societies, although the move will allow us all to work more closely than ever, integrating the sector further and thus reducing barriers between the disciplines.
The move has presented many a new and exciting opportunity already, for example, the first joint Symposium between the SEB, BES and BS is already under way with planning - more news on this will follow!
What does this mean for our members?
SEB membership will continue to run as it has in the past. Your contact will be the lovely Sabina, and you will still get all your membership benefits that you signed up for.
