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Special Interest Groups (SIG)
Specific groups of members within the NZMS were created in 1997 to enable networking and encourage interaction between microbiologists with similar interests. The functions of special interest groups are to:
- increase communication between group members
- encourage collaboration between microbiologists
- increase public awareness of microbiology by acting through the NZMS president, as media spokesgroups
- contribute to the organisation of the NZMS Annual Conferences
- arrange meetings in specialist areas of microbiology
- disseminate information through the newsletter
- liaise with the relevant Australian Society for Microbiology SIGs
New NZMS members are encouraged to affiliate to one or two SIGs.
Currently there are eleven SIG:
NEW! Proposal to revamp Special Interest Groups
The state and activities of the current SIG was discussed at the 2006 AGM and it was suggested that a number of SIG are currenty inactive and therefore probably serve no current purpose, whilst others might well be combined or have their basic charter altered, to more adequately reflect the needs of their participants. Indeed, it was noted that a number of the SIG do currently have a convenor, suggesting that interest in these SIG is low. It was agreed that the issue should be discussed further at the executive level and further information will be available here as it becomes available.
In the meantime it was noted that, given strong particpation, SIG still have a useful role to play in the Society (see the section on the purpose of SIG above). Indeed some SIG have been very successful in holding specialist workshops, meetings and symposia (partially sponsored by the Society) and it has been suggested that the Society is willing to make a limited budget for the encouragement of such activities available each year. In addition, with the reduction in direct contact between our Society and the Australian Society for Microbiology, SIG workshops/stmposia may offer a very effective means of maintaining the collaborative trans-Tasman interests of some members.
Another means of continuing the activities of the SIG is to fully untilise the NZMS website. Through this means it should be possible to assist in facilitating collaboration and making other SIG members aware of particular research interests or activities (again, specific objectives of the SIG principal). In addition, this form of media provides a rapid, inexpensive way of alerting SIG participants to specific SIG activities. If you have anything to add to any of the SIG pages, please contact the webmaster.
Finally, members should not forget that the society also publishes a regular newsletter in the form of NZ Bioscience. This is an excellent foum for further disseminating information about SIG activities, such as specialist meeting, workshops and or symposia. If you have items of interest, please discuss them with the Newsletter Editor.
This short precis of discussion held at the AGM was prepared by the Society Secretary to alert members to the proposed revamp and to solicit your input. If you have comments or suggestions as to the future and activities of the Society SIG, please contact the secretary.
Ralph Jack, Secretary (08. December, 2006)
Note: If no convenor is listed for the SIG in which you would
like to
take part, please feel free to contact the secretary
and put your
name forward to act as convenor.
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