Dear Fellow Microbiologists,
The first hints of spring are in the air after what has been for many of us a long hard winter. Here is an update on some of the initiatives your Society is involved in.
The upcoming annual CSM Conference, St John’s NFLD, 20-23/6/2011
Andrew Lang and the other members of the Local Organizing Committee are putting together what will prove to be a memorable and rewarding conference. Check the Conference website for information on the program and logistics http://www.mun.ca/csm2011/index.html. Information on registration costs, the social program, etc. is forthcoming, so please check frequently and start making your travel and lodging arrangements.
“Meet the Microbiologist” feature on the CSM Website available to CSM Full Members
Full members now have the opportunity to have their own personal Vignettes featured on our website http://www.csm-scm.org/. You can now upload text and photographs appropriate for your work, and a link to your website. The feature is intended to allow members to showcase themselves on a site that will be of broad interest to the community of microbiologists. In addition to researchers we’re hoping to attract microbiologists whose professional activities may be primarily in teaching, industry, health, etc. This is to show citizens who aren’t familiar with microbiology the breadth of the science, and to show young people thinking of a career in science the varied employment opportunities in the field. We are keen on having representation from each of the three sections.
When preparing your vignette, please refer to the "Preparation Instruction" document posted on the http://www.csm-scm.org/english/mem_meet.asp . Please forward completed forms to the CSM Secretariat (info@csm-scm.org) copying your Section Chair (address to be found in http://www.csm-scm.org/english/about_exec_sec.asp) on the email. After a review by your Section Chair it will be uploaded onto the website. Please contact the Secretariat for any questions or clarifications.
Recruitment of members who wish to serve the CSM
It’s that time of the year where you need to consider running for Office in the Society or nominating your colleagues to do so. The Society is always in need of new blood in its leadership. If you are looking for opportunities to support the Canadian microbiology community, and mentor the next generation of microbial scientists and educators, the CSM needs you. Whether you are a student, early in your career, or well established, we need your innovative ideas and your energy. Please consider getting involved in the CSM if you have not already done so, you will find the experience a rewarding one.
Please refer to the following link for the nomination form: http://www.csm-scm.org/english/about_exec_nomform.asp . Nominations must be received by April 8th, 2011.
Nomination of candidates for awards
The CSM confers awards to outstanding students, early career, and more senior Canadian microbiologists http://www.csm-scm.org/english/awards_list.asp. It’s time to nominate deserving candidates who you feel should be honoured by their peers and colleagues. Please refer to the Awards page for the nomination forms: http://www.csm-scm.org/english/awards_list.asp. All nominations must be received by April 8th 2011.
CSM initiative to support student development: http://www.csm-scm.org/english/stu_support.asp
The Canadian Society of Microbiologists seeks to promote microbiology in Canadian post-secondary institutions and to encourage broad participation by its members. The CSM is offering funding to help support events celebrating and promoting undergraduate and graduate scientific achievements in microbiology. For example, a “microbiology research day”.
Funding is to be used to support a planned event for undergraduate and/or graduate students. Costs such as room rentals, coffee breaks, poster boards, printing or other associated organizing costs would be supported. Costs associated with the travel or hosting of invited or keynote speakers are not eligible. Alternatively, the organizers may choose to use the funding to offer monetary awards to 1-3 student participants for poster or oral presentations on behalf of the CSM. If the funding is utilized for this purpose, the CSM will also provide a one-year student membership to each award recipient in additional recognition of their achievement. A brief report and a few digital photographs of the event suitable for the CSM website (http://www.csm-scm.org/) must be submitted to the CSM within one month of the completion of the event.
Applications must describe the event for which funds are being requested and clearly outline how the funding will be used. The number of current CSM members participating (full members, PDFs, student) should be indicated, as well as the anticipated number of people involved in the event. Those applying for the funding must be CSM members, and only one event per institution will be funded each year. Applications for funding will be accepted between June and the end of October for an event to occur within the upcoming academic year (Sept-May). The maximum amount awarded will not exceed $500, and the Society may offer less at its discretion. Applications must be submitted to the CSM Secretariat, and final decisions on funding awards will be made by the CSM Executive.
An initiative to communicate Canadian science to parliamentarians
As part of its mission to advance microbiology in Canada, the CSM has now joined the Partnership Group for Science and Engineering (PAGSE). This organization is an umbrella group for many scholarly science societies and is affiliated with the Royal Society of Canada. PAGSE’s mission is to educate federal parliamentarians and decision makers about science and engineering issues. Check out their website (http://www.pagse.org/) to learn about their activities. We anticipate that PAGSE will be a good vehicle to communicate our science issues to this important constituency.
Closing thoughts
In the coming weeks there will be a Federal budget that amongst other important matters will determine the level of federal funding available for science in this country. The position of the Canadian Society of Microbiologists is that investment in long term research should be made available at a level that is commensurate with the need for Canadians to compete in a knowledge-based global economy, and the need to develop the innovations that will contribute to the health and well being of citizens everywhere. Imagine a world where there had never been discoveries in microbiology. It’s not a place anyone of us would prefer to spend our poorer, shorter lives in. It is important to continue investing in the microbiological sciences so that our children, and children’s children, will have better lives.
On behalf of the CSM Executive,
Ed Topp
CSM President