Aims and Objectives

Our vision is

• to represent all who are committed to biology in academia and industry, education and research
• to facilitate the promotion and translation of advances in biological science for national and international benefit
• to help the wider public to engage with our subject

Our mission is to create a single unified voice for UK biology, representing the discipline and its practitioners. We will champion discoveries in biology and support their translation to health, economic, social and environmental benefit, promote understanding, learning and communication in biology, develop partnerships within the UK and overseas, and provide the widest possible support to our membership.

Our goals are to build upon and develop the strengths of both the Institute of Biology and the Biosciences Federation, and seize new opportunities to broaden our range of influence and scale of activities.

In the first year after formation the Society of Biology will

• consult with its members regarding its structure and functions
• work more closely with learned societies and other member organisations, to further develop the support provided to them, and add value to their activities
• further develop the regional bases across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
• agree a strategy to establish a major and sustainable funding base
• draw upon the expertise within the network of member organisations to present their collective views effectively
• establish itself as the key advisor to government, funding bodies and policy makers on all relevant issues, building on the activities and expertise of member organisations
• expand its programmes for education and training, including those for schools and teachers, for life-long learning, continuing professional development and chartered status
• enhance its public profile and widen public engagement in biology
• seek and develop new partnerships including those within the EU and the rest of the world
• consider optimal location and potential sharing of facilities with member organisations
• encourage all individual members to engage in continuing professional development
• promote equal opportunity and diversity amongst those engaged in biology
• define new categories of membership and expand the range of member benefits
• build a team to deliver strategy

By 2015 the Society of Biology will:

• be recognised and respected as the leading organisation for biology by all, including professional scientists, teachers, those without formal qualification and the wider public
• have strong regional offices that provide the foci for biological resources to teachers, amateur and professional biologists and all others interested in biology
• be influencing major issues in biology through strong, evidence-based argument and public engagement
• have effective horizon-scanning mechanisms to identify future trends and concerns about the impact of biology on society
• hold an annual meeting that will be a unique forum for interaction between diverse groups of biologists
• have CPD and accreditation programmes in place that are of exemplary standard and enhance the value of membership
• provide strong professional support of the highest quality to member organisations, individual members and external stakeholders
• have trebled the current individual membership, with appropriate recognition and respect for all types of member
• be a significant member of the international biology community