For Members
Milestones in Microbiology - Program Guidelines
To promote greater awareness and appreciation of microbiology, the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) has established the Milestones in Microbiology Program, which recognizes sites where major developments occurred and/or where outstanding microbiologists made seminal discoveries. The objectives of the Milestones in Microbiology Program are to foster interest in the nation’s microbiological heritage and to remind citizens, educators and “visitors” of the importance of microbiology.
The Milestones in Microbiology Committee welcomes nominations of prospective Milestones sites, and has prepared the following two documents for use by individuals or groups wishing to nominate a site for designation:
ASM Milestones in Microbiology Guidelines
This document gives an overview of the program objectives and provides detailed instructions on how to prepare and submit a nomination for a proposed Milestones site.
ASM Milestones in Microbiology "Helpful Suggestions"
This document provides a list of general notes/suggestions for sites considering a Milestones designation. Topics covered include planning a ceremony and reception, providing publicity for an event, outreach to local educators, etc.
ANNUAL DEADLINE for Site Nominations - January 31st.
For questions or to obtain additional information, contact the ASM Archivist at jkarr@asmusa.org
History of Microbiology Travel Awards - Past Awardees
The History of Microbiology Research Travel Award program was initiated in 2012 by the Center for the History of Microbiology/ASM Archives (CHOMA). The awards are given to support historical research of the awardees' choosing, in areas that can be supported by materials in the CHOMA collections. The CHOMA collections, located at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, include 9,000 volumes on microbiology and related topics, photographs, biographical materials, topical files on various aspects of microbiology, records of the Society from its founding in 1899 to the present, and several collections of personal papers.
To see profiles of past awardees, click on years listed below:
History of Microbiology at the asm2013 General Meeting
2013 General Meeting Activities Sponsored by the Center for the History of Microbiology/ASM Archives Committee
The Center for the History of Microbiology/ASM Archives (CHOMA) is pleased to announce its schedule of asm2013 General Meeting events:
History of Microbiology Lecture – Accomplishments and Legacy of the Soviet Biological Weapons Program, 1928-1992
History Symposium – Early Microbe Hunters Overcoming Biases and Barriers
History of Microbiology Exhibit – Alice Catherine Evans (1881-1975), the First Woman to Serve as President of the Society of American Bacteriologists (now ASM)
Click Here for a PDF Listing Activities Sponsored by CHOMA at the 2013 ASM General Meeting
For questions about CHOMA activities, contact ASM Archivist at jkarr@asmusa.org
For information on the 2013 ASM General Meeting, click here
History of Microbiology Research Travel Awards - Call for Applications
Deadline – NOVEMBER 15, 2013
The Center for the History of Microbiology/ASM Archives (CHOMA), housed at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), is pleased to announce two Travel Awards for research at the ASM Archives in the area of the history of microbiology.
Grant
Up to two cash grants of $1500 each will be awarded. Awardees may be invited to present their research at the ASM Annual Meeting and/or prepare an article for Microbe, the ASM membership magazine.
Research Areas
The grants support research of the awardees’ choosing, in areas that can be supported by materials in the CHOMA collections. The CHOMA collections include 9,000 volumes on microbiology and related topics, photographs of scientists and microbes, topical files on various aspects of microbiology, biographical materials, instructional materials (including slides and motion pictures), records of the Society (including journals and proceedings of meetings) from its founding in 1899 to the present, and several collections of personal papers. For additional information on the collection, go to http://www.asm.org/choma or contact the ASM Archivist, Jeff Karr, at jkarr@asmusa.org.
Application Procedures
Applicants for the History of Microbiology Research Travel Awards must submit the following via e-mail to the ASM Archivist (jkarr@asmusa.org):
- CV (any length)
- Detailed description of the proposed project (three pages maximum) clearly demonstrating its historical intent
- Short description of previous historical research undertaken by applicant (if applicable) and/or an indication of how/why the applicant became interested in the history of microbiology
- Tentative list of archive materials to be used based on the descriptions of CHOMA holdings found at the website
- Two letters of recommendation (which should be e-mailed directly by individuals providing the recommendations)
Submission Deadline
All applications and letters of recommendation must be submitted no later than NOVEMBER 15, 2013 to the ASM Archivist, Jeff Karr, at jkarr@asmusa.org
Selection Committee
All applications will be reviewed by a sub-committee of the Center for the History of Microbiology/ASM Archives (CHOMA) Committee. Decisions of the selection committee are final.
Award Announcement
- Awards will be announced by December 30, 2013.
- All candidates will receive an e-mail notification of the status of their applications after the selection committee makes its decisions.
Additional Information
For additional information on the award and award guidelines, contact Jeff Karr at jkarr@asmusa.org
Sessions Sponsored by the Center for the History of Microbiology/ASM Archives at the 2013 ASM General Meeting
Annual History of Microbiology Lecture:
Accomplishments and Legacy of the Soviet Biological Weapons Program, 1928-1992
Date: Sunday, May 19, 2013
Time:
Location:
Convener:
Lecturer:
Description:
The session’s main objective is to describe and explain the Soviet Union’s biological warfare (BW) program as directed against humans, from its origins in the late 1920s to the USSR’s dissolution in December 1991, paying special attention to its accomplishments related to weaponized bacterial and viral pathogens. The session will also clarify the possible threats that the program’s remnants, as lodged in present day Russian Ministry of Defense’s secret biological research institutes, pose to world peace.
Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to
- Discuss the Soviet BW program’s history, staffing, facilities, and objectives
- Discuss the R&D undertaken to weaponize bacteria using genetic engineering techniques
- Discuss the R&D undertaken to weaponize viruses using both classical and genetic engineering techniques
- Discuss the major accomplishments of the Soviet BW program
- Identify the violations of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention perpetrated by the Soviets
- Discuss the threats posed by remnants of the Soviet BW program as they exist in the secret laboratories operated by the Russian Ministry of Defense in terms of their proliferation potential
History Symposium:
Early Microbe Hunters Overcoming Biases and Barriers
Date: Sunday, May 19, 2013
Time:
Location:
Conveners:
Co-sponsors:
Description:
The earliest microbiologists were nearly all men with roots in European culture. Nevertheless, from its earliest years, microbiology has attracted many remarkable women and minorities who had to overcome unusual hurdles in order to become professionals. Nowadays we work to attract and retain diverse populations into scientific careers. By studying the history of our profession and by examining the motivations, experiences and educational paths that allowed pioneer “outsider” microbiologists to overcome the biases and barriers inherent in the culture of microbiology, we can learn lessons that can be applied to contemporary recruitment and retention efforts. We can also learn the significance of diversity in advancing microbiology.
Presentations:
11:00 am
How Fungi Brought Me to a Brighter Future
11:30 am
Long Before a Committee on the Status of Women in Microbiology, There Was A. C. Evans
12:00 Noon
Putting a New Face on the ASM Presidency
12:30 pm
Motivations and Mind Sets of “Model Minorities”
1:00 pm
Role Models of the Past: William Hinton, Ruth Moore and Others
Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to
- Develop a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by women and minority microbiologists in the 20th Century
- Examine the way in which the human factors present in laboratories, classrooms, hospital and other institutional settings can impact the practice of scientific careers
- Recognize the subtle and complex forms of covert bias still faced by women and minorities in the 21st Century
History of Microbiology Exhibit:
Alice Catherine Evans (1881-1975), the First Woman to Serve as President of the Society of American Bacteriologists (now ASM)
Location:
Dates & Times:
Description:
The Center for the History of Microbiology / ASM Archives (CHOMA) Exhibit explores the long, successful (and sometimes contentious) career of Alice Catherine Evans (1881-1975), the first woman to serve as President of the Society of American Bacteriologists (now ASM), who made substantial contributions to dairy and medical bacteriology.