FEMS FEDERATION OF EUROPEAN MICROBIOLOGICAL SOCIETIES

FEMS FEDERATION OF EUROPEAN MICROBIOLOGICAL SOCIETIES:

The first federation of microbiological societies in Europe was a geographically-restricted consortium called the North-West European Microbiology Group (NWEMG), which has turned into existence in 1968. Prior to this, the biochemical societies of Europe had been formed into a much larger grouping known as the Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS). This served as the model for aspirations for a much wider association of European microbiological societies.

The Society for General Microbiology (SGM) financed a preliminary meeting of interested parties in Paris in May 1973. Representatives of thirteen European microbiological societies attended and nine of these delegates were firmly committed to the concept of a Federation. A draft set of Statutes, based on those of FEBS, was drawn up and circulated to all representatives. It was then agreed that the Headquarters of the Federation should be at the Office of the Society for General Microbiology.

Nowadays, the Federation’s Registered Office is no longer situated at the SGM’s headquarters but in Berkshire. An interim Executive Committee was charged with arranging the first meeting of a Council of the Federation in the autumn of 1974, to which all European microbiological societies would be invited to send a delegate, and at this meeting an Executive Committee would be formally elected. On 22 November 1974, the Council accepted unanimously the appointment of A. Lwoff as President; M. Modarski, Vice-President; H. Smith, Treasurer; A.H. Rose, Secretary-General; and C.J.E.A. Bulder as Meetings Secretary.

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