Biochemical Journal, Clinical at Birmingham School of Medicine

News

Society News CEO Viewpoint

As 2014 draws to a close, I have been reflecting on the able to deliver even more for our members and the changes and developments within the Society over wider community next year. the year. Possibly our greatest achievement has been Expect a new brand for the Biochemical Society reaching 7000 members in September, the highest our and Portland Press Limited. This is more than just membership has been in 14 years, and ensuring that new logos, but a modern look and refresh of our entire

we retain our position within our sector as the largest messaging to ensure we are articulating our values, Downloaded from http://portlandpress.com/biochemist/article-pdf/36/6/48/3052/bio036060048.pdf by guest on 02 October 2021 single-discipline learned society. philosophy and purpose. This brand should allow Kate Baillie (CEO) We were delighted to see an across-the board us to connect the Society and its members with the increase in Impact Factors for our journals – a pleasing biochemistry community, wider scientific sector and reflection of the level of interest in research published the general public more effectively. through our subsidiary Portland Press Limited. The rebranding project has delivered a fascinating Our levels of engagement and visibility have insight into how we are viewed and valued. It was increased with members and the public. We have more particularly pleasing to see the many hundreds of you than 7100 followers on Twitter, our videos on YouTube who took part in online surveys, telephone interviews have been viewed more than 55 000 times and our and focus groups. Your contributions were extremely blog has received over 30 000 hits. The Society and our helpful and I thank you again for your time. journals have been featured in The Times, on the BBC, in Another major project we have been working the Daily Mail, by Reuters and in The Evening Telegraph on is the impending move of our journals to the (Scotland), commenting on issues such as the state of the HighWire Open Platform, an industry-leading journal drug discovery industry in the UK and promoting the hosting system. latest in biochemical research, such as an experimental With this project, we are moving the 10 000 pages blood test that determines a ‘Bioenergetic Health Index’, of research published annually in our portfolio of discovered by researchers at the University of Alabama journals, including the Biochemical Journal, Clinical at Birmingham School of Medicine. Science, Biochemical Society Transactions and Bioscience We have begun delivering on the new focus for Reports, to HighWire. Education department; those aged 15 and older, The move will make it easier for readers to find, particularly early career researchers, and continuing read, share and explore our authoritative catalogue of our work to promote the molecular biosciences to papers, while authors that publish with us will benefit the general public, through a series of public from greater discoverability of their work. engagement activities. This included a popular event Complementing the move will be the organized with the Society for General Microbiology implementation of recommendations from our on the threat of antibiotic resistance in Edinburgh at Editorial Review. This review looked at all aspects the European Federation of Biotechnology Congress of our publishing business to allow us to be more in July; a packed auditorium for an epigenetics debate responsive to the interests and needs of our at the British Science Festival in Birmingham in community, and support our community in sharing September; and a joint activity ‘Medicine Makers’ and finding information. This will help us achieve our with the British Pharmacological Society, held during goal of developing Portland Press Limited as a leading Biology Week in October. publisher in the molecular biosciences. Our Conferences team delivered another year of Within membership, you will see a greater focus on well-received events and through our Policy work we, industry, academic drug discovery and biotechnology, with the Society of Biology, ensured that the concerns as part of our efforts to ensure we are representing the of the biochemistry community were represented in full spectrum of biochemistry. We hope that our efforts our responses to government consultations. to align our services for members in these sectors with While the numbers and achievements are looking their specific needs will enable us to pursue greater good, what will not be immediately evident to members engagement within these areas in the coming months is the huge amount of behind-the-scenes work that has and years. also been taking place over the past year. It is this work These new projects will complement our existing that is truly exciting, because it should lead to us being work to advance the molecular and cellular biosciences.

48 December 2014 © Biochemical Society News

We will continue to provide the full range of member I urge you to consider putting forward your benefits, including another exciting and diverse colleagues or acquaintances and especially encourage conference programme and more than £200 000 in nominations that reflect the diversity of the bioscience grants available throughout the year. community, including the gender balance. Visit www. Finally, I have talked about the Society’s biochemistry.org/Awards/Nominations.aspx for more achievements, but we also want to celebrate the information. achievements of the community. Our Annual Awards are Wishing you all happy holidays, and I look forward being run again, and the deadline for nominations is 31 to working with you to ensure the continued growth January 2015. Eleven Awards are available, celebrating a and success of the Biochemical Society and Portland range of career stages and areas of biochemistry. Press Limited throughout 2015. ■ Downloaded from http://portlandpress.com/biochemist/article-pdf/36/6/48/3052/bio036060048.pdf by guest on 02 October 2021

Departing trustees

The Biochemical Society is paying tribute to its departing President and Policy Committee Chair this month. President Professor Ron Laskey concludes his three-year term at the end of this year. Professor Laskey (Cambridge, UK) took up the role of President in 2012, as the Society entered its second century. During his term, he witnessed many highlights for the Society and oversaw continued growth within our membership, culminating in reaching 7000 members in September. Ron joined the Society back in the 1980s and was made an Honorary Member in 2011. His engagement with the Society extends back further to 1979, when he was awarded the Colworth Medal, which recognizes outstanding research by a young biochemist. He had the opportunity to hand out many Awards himself during his three years, including a special 50- year celebration of the Colworth Medal in 2013. Another milestone during Ron’s tenure was Women in Biochemistry Year in 2013, marking 100 years since women were admitted to the Society. A range of activities President Ron Laskey presents Professor Robin May with were undertaken including a lecture, new grants, Stay the Colworth Medal in 2013, the 50-year anniversary of Connected Bursaries and the sponsorship of a two-year the Award. Daphne Jackson Trust fellowship to support a female biochemist returning from an extended career break. Officer Dr Cat Ball. This relationship has allowed us to Ron also played an important role in the maximize our resources and ensure issues important to development of the Society’s Five Year Strategy last year biochemistry and the wider life sciences community are and his contributions to this will continue to influence represented in Government. the Society. David has served on the Policy Committee in World-renowned plant scientist and geneticist various roles since 2003. He was due to conclude his Sir David Baulcombe will replace Professor Laskey as term as Chair last year, but volunteered to stay on for an President from January. extra year to help steer the Society’s changes to its policy Also departing this month is Professor David Fell function, following the Strategy Retreat last year. (Oxford Brookes University, UK), current Chair of the Professor Fell is to be replaced by Professor Tim Policy Committee. David oversaw the Society’s growing Dafforn (University of Birmingham, UK). relationship with the Society of Biology on policy On behalf of all members, we thank Ron and David for matters, including the secondment of our Science Policy their dedicated service and contributions to the Society. ■

December 2014 © Biochemical Society 49 News

Members honoured

Throughout 2014, a number of longstanding Biochemical Society members have received prestigious awards. We take this opportunity to congratulate them and celebrate their achievements.

Cancer Research UK Lifetime 2014, Dr Keith Elliott, who has been a Biochemical Achievement in Cancer Research Prize – Society member for over 40 years, received the Award Professor Ron Laskey CBE FRS FMedSci at the 50th anniversary FEBS Congress in Paris. It is particularly appropriate that we note Keith’s award as

This prize honours an individual it is built on his education and careers activities with Downloaded from http://portlandpress.com/biochemist/article-pdf/36/6/48/3052/bio036060048.pdf by guest on 02 October 2021 who has demonstrated a lifetime the Biochemical Society. Keith chaired the Biochemical commitment to the fight against Society’s Education Committee and was Honorary cancer, making exceptional Careers Adviser in the 1990s. advances in the field. In 2014, this prestigious award was made to Ron Laskey, who ends his term Royal Medal – as Biochemical Society President this year. We Professor Howard Morris FRS pay tribute to Ron’s work within the Biochemical Society in the Society News article on page 49. These medals are awarded by the Royal Society for the most important contributions in the Copley Medal – physical, biological and applied Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys KBE FRS sciences. The three Royal Medals, also known as the Queen’s Medals, The Copley Medal is the Royal are awarded annually by the Society’s oldest and most prestigious Sovereign on the recommendation of the Council of award, having first been awarded the Society. Frederick Sanger FRS, Max Perutz FRS in 1731. It has been awarded to and Francis Crick FRS are among those who have been several notable scientists, including awarded a Royal Medal. Longstanding Biochemical Michael Faraday FRS, Charles Society member Professor Howard Morris FRS was Darwin FRS, Dorothy Hodgkin awarded the 2014 Royal Medal for his pioneering work FRS and Francis Crick FRS. The Medal is awarded in biomolecular mass spectrometry including strategy annually ‘for outstanding achievements in research in and instrument design, enabling advanced discovery any branch of science’. The award alternates between research and for outstanding entrepreneurship in the physical and biological sciences. Biochemical biopharmaceutical characterization accelerating the Society member Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys KBE FRS release of new medicinal products. was awarded the 2014 Copley Medal for his pioneering work on variation and mutation in the human genome. A number of Biochemical Society members were acknowledged in the Queen’s Honours lists for 2014, recognizing the achievements and service of FEBS Diplôme d’Honneur – extraordinary people across the UK: Dr Keith Elliott Professor Adrian Peter Bird CBE FRS FRSE The FEBS Diplôme d’Honneur was received a Knight Bachelor for services to Science instituted on the 10th anniversary of FEBS to honour biochemists Professor Douglas Kell and molecular biologists that have received a CBE for Services to Science and Research given outstanding service to FEBS. Only 44 awards have been made Help us to celebrate our members’ achievements by since its inception in 1974. In letting us know about your good news. ■

Staff news

Head of Editorial Pauline Starley has left the Society, Head of Membership, Marketing and Communications Helen Davies leaves the following more than 30 years of service. During Pauline’s Society this month. Helen joined in 2001, first as a Scientific Conference Co-ordinator. tenure, there were many changes within the Society’s She began heading the Membership department in 2011, and since taking on the role publishing function, including the formation of Portland has overseen a 25% growth in membership, culminating in surpassing 7000 members Press Limited; the conversion of Bioscience Reports in September. into the Society’s first fully open access journal and the We thank Pauline and Helen for their contributions to the Society and wish them transition to digital delivery of scientific research. the best in their next endeavours. ■ Downloaded from http://portlandpress.com/biochemist/article-pdf/36/6/48/3052/bio036060048.pdf by guest on 02 October 2021 Portland Press News Peter Shepherd retires as Biochemical Journal Editorial Board Chair

Biochemical Journal Editorial Board Chair Peter Shepherd concludes seven years at the helm of the Journal this month. He is to be succeeded by current Deputy Chair Professor David Carling (Imperial College London, UK), who takes over on 1 January 2015. Peter wraps up a long history with the Biochemical Society-owned Portland Press Limited-published Journal, beginning 12 years ago as an Editor, then as a Deputy Editor and, since 2007, as the Chair. One of the notable achievements during his time was an expansion of the Biochemical Journal’s international profile. He oversaw the launch of the Journal’s China office in 2011; the appointment of ambassadors for South America and India; and Symposia in San Diego in 2012 and Beijing in 2013. The Journal has also broadened its international scope of editors and prestigious appointments to the panel of Deputy Chairs. This will be a continuing focus for the Journal in future as we adapt and serve growing centres of research Peter Shepherd speaking at the 2014 Biochemical Journal Symposium. around the world. Another initiative Peter supported was the 5.16 in 2009. This was during a time when the Impact Factors of its closest competitor development of the peer-review cascade system to journals were either declining or struggling to remain at the same level. Although they Bioscience Reports, our open access journal. This system should be treated with care, Impact Factors provide a useful measurement of the level allows papers that make sound contributions, yet are of interest in the research published in academic journals. not judged to be sufficiently novel for publication in If there is one thing that exemplifies Peter’s commitment to theBiochemical Journal, Biochemical Journal, to be easily transferred to Bioscience it is his travel. Peter has flown more than a million miles while on the Journal’s business Reports, facilitating the ease of publication for authors. – equivalent to the moon and back twice! During Peter’s time as Chair, the Journal’s Impact On behalf of all the authors, readers and reviewers, we thank Peter for his many Factor rose by more than a whole Impact Factor point to years of service to the Biochemical Journal. ■