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Welcome to the ASM

The ASM is a not-for-profit organisation, formed in 1959 as a learned society devoted to furthering the science of microbiology. The ASM became an incorporated professional society in 1976.

A member of the International Union of Microbiological Societies.

 

 ASM is a member Society of Science & Technology Australia.

 

Latest News Items

December 31 2014

Alan C. (Chris) Hayward (1932-2014)

Dear colleagues and friends,

We are writing to share the very sad news that Chris Hayward passed away on the 26^th December, 2014.

Alan Christopher Hayward, known to us all as Chris, was a much respected staff member of the Department of Microbiology at UQ for 32 years before his retirement in 1997. He made important contributions to the Department both during its early expansion and formative period in the 1960s as well as in later years when he served a period as Acting Head of Department. Many generations of students, myself included, were fortunate to have been taught by Dr Hayward. He will be remembered for his enthusiastic lecturing style which inspired many, but also for his affable and caring nature – he always made time to talk with students and staff who needed his advice and was an outstanding mentor to both students and colleagues. He embodied the very definition of a scholar and a gentleman. He taught widely in general microbiology, microbial taxonomy, plant and soil microbiology, and in developing areas such as biotechnology in a range of faculties, particularly Science and Agriculture. He also played a key role in the development and teaching of first year courses in the biological sciences. His ability to share his knowledge earned him the respect of students and colleagues alike as an outstanding educator for which he received a University of Queensland Teaching Excellence Award in 1991.

Chris was born in Birmingham, England in 1932 and was awarded his B.S. (Honours) and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Birmingham. After a brief period working as a process microbiologist at the Commonwealth Microbiological Research Institute in Trinidad, West Indies, he worked as a bacteriologist at the Commonwealth Mycological Institute (now the CAB International Mycological Institute) in Kew, England. He joined the Department of Microbiology at UQ as a Lecturer in 1965. Chris was widely recognized internationally as one of the world’s leading plant bacteriologists and a noted authority on bacterial wilt, one of the most important diseases of a large number of crops of economic importance. His research at UQ, beginning in the mid-1960s and continuing beyond his retirement (he published a review on bacterial wilt as recently as 2013), has contributed greatly to our understanding of the taxonomy, genetics, and evolutionary relationships of this important crop pathogen. One notable publication in 1964 became a classic in the field, with citations exceeding 500. Many years later, when molecular methods became available and other systems for classification were devised in Chris’s own laboratory, the evolutionary insight of that 1964 paper became evident.

Chris’s pioneering research on bacterial wilt and on the taxonomy and identification of bacterial plant pathogens in general was recognised by his peers with the award of Fellow of the Australasian Plant Pathology Association and Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society. He also served as President of the Australasian Plant Pathology Society.

Chris Hayward was an outstanding teacher and scientist who touched the lives of many who will remember him with great fondness, affection and appreciation. He will be missed by his students, colleagues, and the worldwide scientific community.

 A memorial service will be held for Chris on Friday 2^nd January at 10.00am at the Brisbane Boys College Chapel, Kensington Terrace, Toowong. A notice will appear in Wednesday’s edition of the Courier Mail.

 

December 16 2014

Molecular Microbiology News - Issue 2

Click the image below to download the full PDF

November 28 2014

ASM Call for President Elect Nominations

Click here for the nomination form

November 26 2014

A study on effective science communication to the general public -  a key issue for all microbiologists: 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/sci-comm-MICR 

November 11 2014

WWI soldier's sample continues to help fight against dysentery

In Honour of Remembrance day, a link to the NCTC story on a strain of Shigella flexneri isolated from a WWI soldier, and how it continues to contribute to modern research into dystentery:

https://www.phe-culturecollections.org.uk/news/nctc-news/nctc1.aspx

 

17 September 2014

Microbiome Forum Asia - ASM Member Reduced Rate!

19-20 January 2015
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The field of metagenomics has allowed researchers to look into the diversity of the body’s microbiota with findings that the microbiome is a home for diversity, natural immunity, metabolism, behavioural traits, and plays an instrumental role in health and disease. The latest academic and industry research will explore the human microbiome across the following areas:

• Characterising the human microbiome
• Venture capital, collaborations and investment
• The human microbiome’s effect on health and disease
• New research into different microbial systems – both inside and outside the GI tract
• Probiotics, prebiotics, diet and the microbiome
• Skin and dermatology research

Members can get a 10% discount with discount code “ASM/10”

Click here for more information

 

11 September 2014

Lab Management Conference - ASM Member Reduced Rate!

If you work in or control a laboratory, there are specific issues you face everyday:

1. human resources
2. budgetary
3. occupational health & safety
4. regulatory
5. productivity
6. staff training and retention

The annual conference is dedicated to the professional development of laboratory professionals from all walks of life.

Be they from academic "blue sky" research labs. through to QA/QC labs. in industry, all laboratory (and for that matter: scientific, technical & facility) managers face very similar issues in the day to day running of their laboratories. The LMC is unique and applicable across all laboratories, irrespective of where they are to be found. 

Special registration rates earned by membership of the Australian Society for Microbiology. These rates can be accessed by either filling in the registration form in the linked flyer or registering online here. and using the special Promo Code "ALMA14" (without quotation marks).

The detailed conference program can be accessed here.

ASM 2015

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