SEB Bulletin January 2008
From the President's Desk
The warm sunny weather here in St Andrews lasted until early October when several nights of ground frost initiated the most spectacular display of autumn foliage for many years. Although we had several storms in November there have also been quiet periods and some leaves remain on the trees at the time of writing on the 2nd December. In recent days the first snow of winter has fallen on the Grampian Mountains and today St Andrews Bay was framed with white on the northern horizon.
SEB Council met in Southampton last week and as part of our business we reviewed the nominations solicited for the vacant position on Council and for Deputy Publications Officer. The response of the membership has exceeded our most optimistic expectations with 17 people volunteering for one or both of the posts. After a careful consideration and debate about the skills and experience we required and the merits of the candidates two short-lists were drawn up for direct election by the membership. Given the high quality of the candidates this proved an exceptionally difficult task. The candidates chosen for the Council election were Dr Melody Clark (British Antarctic Survey), Dr Gudrun De Boeck (University of Antwerp) and Dr Carol Wagstaff (University of Reading) and for Deputy Publications Officer election we selected Dr Martin Parry (Rothamsted Research Institute) and Dr Hilary Rogers (University of Cardiff). We are confident that any of these outstanding candidates will bring fresh ideas and enthusiasm to the running of our Society. I am also grateful to the candidates that were not selected on this occasion and we plan to approach many of them in the near future to try and persuade them to become more closely involved with other SEB committees. I am also delighted to report that Dr Alun Anderson and Dr Geoff Randall OBE have agreed to become independent members of SEB Council. Alun Anderson brings considerable experience in publishing and scientific journalism. He has a PhD in Biology from the University of Edinburgh and has held a series of high profile positions as International Editor of Science, Japan Bureau Chief and US Editor of Nature and Editor-in-Chief of New Scientist. He remains a senior consultant and frequent contributor to New Scientist and he is currently researching a book on the “Future of the Arctic”. Geoffrey Randall brings very substantial experience in managing environmental research within industry as well as a familiarity with the UK Research Councils. He obtained a PhD in organic chemistry from University College, London, before embarking on a very successful career with first ICI and later AstraZeneca becoming Head of the Brixham Environmental Laboratory in Devon and Director of global Environmental Science and Technology. He has served on EPSRC and BBSRC committees and was a member of NERC Council (1994-2000), chairing its Audit Committee. Since retiring from AstraZeneca he has maintained several company Directorships, is a Vice-President of the Marine Biological Association, a trustee of the National Marine Aquarium and a visiting Professor at the University of Plymouth.
It was gratifying to learn at Council that the new SEB committees introduced in the spring are now getting into their stride. The Meetings Committee under the leadership of the Vice-President, Professor Pat Hesslop-Harrison, has produced a strategy and implementation document, which is now out for consultation with the Section Committees and the Publications Committee, chaired by Prof Mike Burrell, has had its first meeting and is developing new publishing ideas. A cherished feature of the SEB is its broad scope delivered through the Animal, Cell and Plant Sections Committees. A cornerstone of our constitution has been the right of each of the Section Committees to nominate the Vice-President in rotation. The Vice-President automatically becomes President serving in each position for two years. Now that the former Education and Public Affairs Committee has become a Section Council has decided that it should also participate in the rotation for nominating the Vice-President.
The next meeting of Council on the 6th March will be particularly important because, in addition to discussing the papers prepared by the Meetings and Publications Committees, we will receive the reports of the first two “time-limited” task groups set up by Council. These will cover a review the Journal of Experimental Botany being carried out by Prof Richard Napier (HRI, University of Warwick) and the preparation of a “Disaster Recovery Plan” led by our treasurer, Dr Martin Watson. Before the Council Meeting I also attended the Investments Committee chaired by the Company Secretary, Prof Len Evans. Under Len's watchful eye the Society's finances remain in good health. In March, Council will consider all spending requests from the Sections, Journals and the Southampton Office and set a budget for 2008-9. Reviewing income and expenditure at the same meeting will enable all spending requests to be tensioned against each other and Council to determine the priorities for the coming year. We aim to increase the attractiveness of the main annual meeting and symposia, maintain prudent financial reserves and to continue to help younger members develop their careers through workshops, travel grants and the opportunity to network with leading senior scientists in their fields. I would be most interested in hearing from any member about their ideas for improving the services offered by the SEB.
By the time this letter reaches your desk it will be 2008 and Christmas festivities a distant but, hopefully fond memory. I shall finish this edition of “From the President's Desk” by wishing you all a very happy, healthy, prosperous and academically rewarding New Year.
Ian A. Johnston
Honorary President