United Kingdom Federation for Culture Collections Newsletter, Issue 24, 1995

United Kingdom Federation for Culture Collections Newsletter Issue 24, 1995 Code Number: NL95010 Size of Files: Text: 29K No associated graphics files Guest Editorial: Prof. M Goodfellow REVIEW OF UK MICROBIAL CULTURE COLLECTIONS The independent review of the UK microbial culture collections was published in November by HMSO. The review arose initially from the report on Systematic Biology published by the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology. In the Government's response to the this report, the Office of Science and Technology was asked to commission an independent review of the UK culture collections, in order to determine national needs and to help develop an appropriate strategy for the future. The review, chaired by Professor R Whittenbury (University of Warwick), was undertaken by Professors T Atkinson (Porton, PHLS), M Goodfellow (University of Newcastle upon Tyne, R A Herbert (University of Dundee) and D Lewis (University of Sheffield) with Dr J Brown (University of Warwick) as Secretary/Co-ordinator. The key issues addressed by the review were: (i) Purpose of Collections (ii) Holdings of Collections (iii) Funding of Collections (iv) Collaboration The UK Systematics Forum The UK Systematics Forum - an important new initiative funded by the Office of Science and Technology - is currently setting up a "Directory of UK Systematic Expertise & Current Research", and invites any person in the UK active in systematic biology research to be included in this important database. New Treasurer for UKFCC The Future of Microbiology in Europe: An Opinion Paper from Novo Nordisk Summary: Microbes are ubiquitous. Their diversity is immense. Their economic impact is considerable. Their medical importance is critical. Their ecological role is indispensable. Lisbeth Anker and Borge Diderichsen Vice-President, BioIndustrial Group, Novo Nordisk. Microbiology 2000 The Secretary represented the UKFCC at a series of meetings held by the UK Forum for Microbiology last year. The UK Forum for Microbiology was established in 1990 following the decision of the Council of the Royal Society to disband the British National Committees. It represents member microbiological societies and meets annually to debate issues of mutual interest. The remit of the UK Forum is to; Provide a mechanism whereby member societies can meet to discuss items of mutual interest, Advise the Royal society on international microbiological issues. Raise the profile of microbiology in the UK. World Federation For Culture Collections: Biodiversity Committee - The WFCC Biodiversity Committee organised a satellite meeting in association with the IUMS 7th International Congress of Bacteriology and Applied Microbiology, Prague, July 3-8th 1994. The Theme of the Satellite Meeting was: "The Biodiversity Convention and its Implications for Microbial Resource Centres" This was an open meeting to which all participants of the IUMS Congress were invited. Full papers from this meeting, additional background information and documentation have been published - World Federation of Culture Collections: The Biodiversity of Microorganisms and the role of microbial Resource Centres. Edited by B Kirsop and DL Hawksworth, on behalf of the WFCC Biodiversity Committee 1994. UKFCC Meetings UKFCC Meeting on Microbial Phylogeny and AGM The next meeting of the Federation will be held on Wednesday July 5, 1995 at the Linnean Society of London, Burlington House, Piccadilly. Programme: Current developments in Phylogenetic analysis of microorganisms. PHA Sneath (University of Leicester) How can we combine the needs of microbiologists with the scientific information? M Munson (Natural History Museum, London) The primary eubacterial endosymbionts of aphids; their phylogeny and possible function. Annual General Meeting of the UKFCC BW Bainbridge (Kings College London) Molecular approaches to fungal phylogeny. MD Collins (AFRC Institute of Food Research, Reading) Recent developments in phylogenetic analysis of bacteria. Workshop on the use of computers in bacterial taxonomy UKFCC Preservation Course Future Meetings of Interest UKFCC Committee Members Service Culture Collections Sustaining Member