Biosciences Federation
Encyclopedia
Function
The Federation aimed to unite the bioscienceBioScience
BioScience is a peer-reviewed monthly sometimes daily scientific journal that is published by the American Institute of Biological Sciences . The content is written and edited for accessibility to researchers, educators, and students alike...
community over issues of common interest that related to both research and teaching. These organisations are a key component of the UK's knowledge economy
Knowledge economy
The knowledge economy is a term that refers either to an economy of knowledge focused on the production and management of knowledge in the frame of economic constraints, or to a knowledge-based economy. In the second meaning, more frequently used, it refers to the use of knowledge technologies to...
. It also aimed to influence the formulation of UK policy relating to biosciences, and to promote public debate on ethical issues. Its interests were in using knowledge gained in research to benefit society, and the impact of legislation on the life sciences industry.
Structure
During October 2009, the Biosciences Federation was merged with the Institute of BiologyInstitute of Biology
The Institute of Biology was a professional body for biologists, primarily those working in the United Kingdom. The Institute was founded in 1950 by the Biological Council: the then umbrella body for Britain's many learned biological societies...
(IoB) to form the Society of Biology
Society of Biology
The Society of Biology is a charitable organization in the United Kingdom created to advance the interests of biology. Formed in 2010 by the merger of the Biosciences Federation and the Institute of Biology, the Society has some 10,000 individual members and through its corporate specialist member...
(which boasts some 80,000 members).
The last president of the Federation was Dame Nancy Rothwell
Nancy Rothwell
Dame Nancy J. Rothwell, DBE, FRS is a British physiologist and academic who became the President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester in July 2010, having been Deputy President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor since January 2010. Dame Nancy is also a director of pharmaceuticals company...
(2006–9); Richard Dyer, former director of the Babraham Institute
Babraham Institute
The Babraham Institute, set in an extensive parkland estate just south of Cambridge, is an independent charitable life sciences institute involved in biomedical research. The aim of this research is to discover the molecular mechanisms that underlie normal cellular processes and functions, and how...
, was the chief executive officer (2006–9). Sir Tom Blundell
Tom Blundell
Sir Tom Leon Blundell, FRS, FMedSci is a British biochemist and science administrator. Up until 2009, he was the Sir William Dunn Professor of Biochemistry and head of the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge....
was a former president (2004–6).
Affiliated organisations in the federation
From 2007, the Biosciences Federation encompassed 51 member or associated organisations that covered the entire range of life sciences; these included- Association of the British Pharmaceutical IndustryAssociation of the British Pharmaceutical IndustryThe Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry is the trade association for 150 companies in the UK producing prescription medicines for humans...
- Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
- AstraZenecaAstraZenecaAstraZeneca plc is a global pharmaceutical and biologics company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's seventh-largest pharmaceutical company measured by revenues and has operations in over 100 countries...
- Biochemical SocietyBiochemical SocietyThe Biochemical Society is a learned society in the United Kingdom in the field of biochemistry, including all the cellular and molecular biosciences.-Structure:...
- British Andrology Society
- British Association for Psychopharmacology
- British Ecological SocietyBritish Ecological SocietyThe British Ecological Society is a learned society in the field of ecology that was founded in 1913. It was the first ecological society in the world. The society's original objective was "to promote and foster the study of Ecology in its widest sense" and this remains the central theme guiding...
- British Neuroscience AssociationBritish Neuroscience AssociationThe British Neuroscience Association is an scientific society with more than 2000 members. It was relaunched in 1997 from the former Brain Research Association. Beside publishing a scientific journal, it offers a variety of benefits to members, including discounts on books and reduced registration...
- British Pharmacological SocietyBritish Pharmacological SocietyThe British Pharmacological Society is the professional association for pharmacologists in the UK.The society was formed when a group of pharmacologists met in Oxford, UK in 1931. The learned society aims to further education within Pharmacology and also organizes meetings of the world's most...
- British Society for Animal Science
- British Society for Cell Biology
- British Society for Developmental Biology
- British Society for ImmunologyBritish Society for ImmunologyThe British Society for Immunology, or BSI, is a UK based organisation of British immunologists but accepts members from all countries. It was founded in 1956 and is one of the oldest and largest Immunology societies in the world and the largest in Europe...
- British Society for Neuroendocrinology
- British Society for Proteome Research
- British Society for Medical Mycology
- British Toxicological Society
- Experimental Psychology SocietyExperimental Psychology SocietyThe Experimental Psychology Society is an academic society which facilitates research into experimental psychology and communication between experimental psychologists. It is based in the United Kingdom....
- Genetics Society
- Institute of Animal Technology
- Institute of BiologyInstitute of BiologyThe Institute of Biology was a professional body for biologists, primarily those working in the United Kingdom. The Institute was founded in 1950 by the Biological Council: the then umbrella body for Britain's many learned biological societies...
- Institute of Horticulture
- Laboratory Animal Science Association
- Linnean Society
- Nutrition Society
- Physiological Society
- Royal Microscopical SocietyRoyal Microscopical SocietyThe Royal Microscopical Society is an international scientific society for the promotion of microscopy. RMS draws members from all over the world and is dedicated to advancing science, developing careers and supporting wider understanding of science and microscopy through its Science and Society...
- Society for Endocrinology
- Society for Applied Microbiology
- Society for Experimental BiologySociety for Experimental BiologyThe Society for Experimental Biology is a learned society which was established in 1923 at Birkbeck College in London to “promote the art and science of experimental biology in all its branches”. The Society has an international membership of approximately 2000 biological researchers, teachers and...
- Society for General MicrobiologySociety for General MicrobiologyThe Society for General Microbiology is a learned society based in the United Kingdom but with members in more than 60 countries. With approximately 5000 members, it is the largest microbiological society in Europe...
- UK Environmental Mutagen Society
- Zoological Society of LondonZoological Society of LondonThe Zoological Society of London is a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats...