Scientific Societies
Pat Heslop-Harrison
Department of Biology,
University of Leicester, LE1 7RH UK
E-mail: PHH4(a)le.ac.uk
Phone: +44/0 116 252 5079 or 3381; FAX: +44/0 116 252 2791
Pat Heslop-Harrison was elected Vice-President of the SEB - the Society for Experimental Biology - in March 2007. In the 1990s, he was involved with the Cell Section Committee and a member of Council. The SEB is one of the major Scientific Societies in the UK, with a membership spanning animal, plant and cell biologists and a fourth section, Education and Public Affairs, that is of universal importance. Membership of the Society offers something to all biologists. For many, the exciting main meeting is a high spot on the conference calendar, offering opportunties to hear the leading science by the people who did it, present posters, discuss science, meet people and even hear about job opportunities. Many graduate students, myself included, make one of their first presentations at SEB meetings! Society members have input to national and international science policy, receive the Bulletin, have many opportunities to organize smaller and larger meetings, and can use the public relations and education advice from the Society.
Meetings Committee. Pat chairs the Meetings Committee which steers the organization of the Societies Major Annual Meeting.
The newly established and focussed Meetings Committee is looking (end 2007) at how the Annual Meeting should evolve and meet the changing needs of the membership. The maximum input from members about conferences and arrangements that will work well is needed: but the committee won't be recommending meetings consisting only of papers from 'airport-professors' with £400 per day registration.
