Society for General Microbiology
Encyclopedia
The Society for General Microbiology (SGM) 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. Interests of its members include basic and applied aspects of virus
es, prion
s, bacteria
, rickettsia
e, mycoplasma
, fungi
, algae
and protozoa
, and all other aspects of microbiology
. Its headquarters are near Reading, Berkshire
. The society's current president is Hilary Lappin-Scott.
. The SGM's first academic meeting was in July of that year and its first journal
, the Journal of General Microbiology (later renamed Microbiology
), came out in 1947. A symposium series followed in 1949, and a sister journal, the Journal of General Virology
, in 1967. The society purchased its own headquarters in Reading in 1971, after sharing accommodation with the Biochemical Society
in London
, moving to its present location just outside Reading in 1991.
The SGM's stable of journals later increased to four, with the acquisitions of the International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology (later renamed International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology
) from the American Society for Microbiology
(1998) and the Journal of Medical Microbiology
from the Pathological Society
(2001–2004).
, awarded biennially for an outstanding contribution of current importance in microbiology. The winner receives £1000 and gives a lecture on his/her work at a Society meeting. The lecture is usually published in a society journal. Marjory Stephenson
was the second president of the SGM (1947–1949) and a distinguished pioneer of chemical microbiology.
students and postdoctoral researchers who have completed their Ph.D within the last 2 years are nominated to enter based on their performance at oral and poster presentations during recent SGM conferences. All finalists receive one year's free membership of the SGM along with transport costs to and from the conference at which the finals are held. Three cash prizes of £500, £200 and £100 are awarded to the winner and two runners up. The prize was renamed in 2009 in honour of the late Howard Dalton
.
Learned society
A learned society is an organization that exists to promote an academic discipline/profession, as well a group of disciplines. Membership may be open to all, may require possession of some qualification, or may be an honor conferred by election, as is the case with the oldest learned societies,...
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. Interests of its members include basic and applied aspects of virus
Virus
A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea...
es, prion
Prion
A prion is an infectious agent composed of protein in a misfolded form. This is in contrast to all other known infectious agents which must contain nucleic acids . The word prion, coined in 1982 by Stanley B. Prusiner, is a portmanteau derived from the words protein and infection...
s, bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
, rickettsia
Rickettsia
Rickettsia is a genus of non-motile, Gram-negative, non-sporeforming, highly pleomorphic bacteria that can present as cocci , rods or thread-like . Being obligate intracellular parasites, the Rickettsia survival depends on entry, growth, and replication within the cytoplasm of eukaryotic host cells...
e, mycoplasma
Mycoplasma
Mycoplasma refers to a genus of bacteria that lack a cell wall. Without a cell wall, they are unaffected by many common antibiotics such as penicillin or other beta-lactam antibiotics that target cell wall synthesis. They can be parasitic or saprotrophic. Several species are pathogenic in humans,...
, fungi
Fungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
, algae
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
and protozoa
Protozoa
Protozoa are a diverse group of single-cells eukaryotic organisms, many of which are motile. Throughout history, protozoa have been defined as single-cell protists with animal-like behavior, e.g., movement...
, and all other aspects of microbiology
Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are defined as any microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters or no cell at all . This includes eukaryotes, such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes...
. Its headquarters are near Reading, Berkshire
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
. The society's current president is Hilary Lappin-Scott.
History
The society was founded on 16 February 1945; its first president was Alexander FlemingAlexander Fleming
Sir Alexander Fleming was a Scottish biologist and pharmacologist. He wrote many articles on bacteriology, immunology, and chemotherapy...
. The SGM's first academic meeting was in July of that year and its first journal
Scientific journal
In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research. There are thousands of scientific journals in publication, and many more have been published at various points in the past...
, the Journal of General Microbiology (later renamed Microbiology
Microbiology (journal)
Microbiology is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that covers research in all aspects of microbiology, including the biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, developmental biology, physiology, pathogenicity, biodiversity, evolution, and genetics of microorganisms and viruses. It also covers...
), came out in 1947. A symposium series followed in 1949, and a sister journal, the Journal of General Virology
Journal of General Virology
The Journal of General Virology is a peer-reviewed academic journal that covers research into viruses affecting animals, plants, insects, bacteria and fungi, including their molecular biology, immunology and interactions with the host. Antiviral compounds are also covered. Established in 1967, it...
, in 1967. The society purchased its own headquarters in Reading in 1971, after sharing accommodation with the Biochemical Society
Biochemical Society
The Biochemical Society is a learned society in the United Kingdom in the field of biochemistry, including all the cellular and molecular biosciences.-Structure:...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, moving to its present location just outside Reading in 1991.
The SGM's stable of journals later increased to four, with the acquisitions of the International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology (later renamed International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology
International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology
The International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology is a peer-reviewed scientific journal in the field of microbial systematics, first published in 1951...
) from the American Society for Microbiology
American Society for Microbiology
The American Society for Microbiology is a professional organization for scientists who study viruses, bacteria, fungi, algae, and protozoa as well as other aspects of microbiology. Microbiology is the study of organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye and which must be viewed with a...
(1998) and the Journal of Medical Microbiology
Journal of Medical Microbiology
The Journal of Medical Microbiology is a peer-reviewed academic journal that covers microbiological research relevant to human and animal disease. Topics covered include pathogenicity, virulence, host response, epidemiology, microbial ecology, diagnostics, typing, models for infection and...
from the Pathological Society
Pathological society
The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland is a professional organisation whose mission is stated as 'understanding disease'.- Membership and Profile :...
(2001–2004).
Activities
The SGM currently organises two academic meetings a year. It publishes a magazine, Microbiology Today (formerly SGM Quarterly), and four academic journals in virology and microbiology:- International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology
- Journal of General Virology
- Journal of Medical Microbiology
- Microbiology
Marjory Stephenson Prize
The Society's principal prize is the Marjory Stephenson PrizeMarjory Stephenson Prize
The Marjory Stephenson Prize is the principal prize of the Society for General Microbiology, awarded biennially for an outstanding contribution of current importance in microbiology....
, awarded biennially for an outstanding contribution of current importance in microbiology. The winner receives £1000 and gives a lecture on his/her work at a Society meeting. The lecture is usually published in a society journal. Marjory Stephenson
Marjory Stephenson
Marjory Stephenson, MBE, FRS was a British biochemist. She was one of the first two women elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1945....
was the second president of the SGM (1947–1949) and a distinguished pioneer of chemical microbiology.
Sir Howard Dalton Award for Young Microbiologist of the Year
The SGM organises a competition each year in which Ph.DDoctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
students and postdoctoral researchers who have completed their Ph.D within the last 2 years are nominated to enter based on their performance at oral and poster presentations during recent SGM conferences. All finalists receive one year's free membership of the SGM along with transport costs to and from the conference at which the finals are held. Three cash prizes of £500, £200 and £100 are awarded to the winner and two runners up. The prize was renamed in 2009 in honour of the late Howard Dalton
Howard Dalton
Sir Howard Dalton, FRS was a British microbiologist.He was the Chief Scientific Advisor to the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from March 2002 to September 2007....
.
List of SGM Young Microbiologists of the Year
- 2010 Nabil Wilf, University of CambridgeUniversity of CambridgeThe University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
- 2009 Tim Blower, University of Cambridge (The toxIN abortive infection and Erwinia carotovora subspecies atroseptica)
- 2008 Rich Boden, University of WarwickUniversity of WarwickThe University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
(Dimethylsulfide metabolism in Methylophaga thiooxidans sp. nov.) - 2007 Ed Hutchinson, University of Cambridge (Packaging of the influenza A genome)
- 2006 Josh D. Neufeld, University of Warwick (marine methylotrophs)