ISCB

ISCB. The International Society for Computational Biology is a global professional society dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding of living systems through computation. It serves as the central hub for researchers in the interdisciplinary field of bioinformatics and computational biology, fostering collaboration and disseminating knowledge. The society plays a pivotal role in organizing major international conferences and supporting the career development of scientists worldwide.

History

The society was formally established in 1997, emerging from the growing need for a unified professional organization to represent the burgeoning field that intersects biology, computer science, and statistics. Its formation was championed by early leaders in the discipline who recognized the transformative potential of computational approaches for projects like the Human Genome Project. A key milestone was its early affiliation with major conferences, including the Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology (ISMB) meeting, which became its flagship event. Over the decades, ISCB has expanded its global footprint, establishing regional groups and student councils to engage members across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Organization and governance

The society is governed by an elected Board of Directors and an executive committee, which includes the President, Vice President, and Secretary. Prominent scientists who have served in leadership roles include past presidents such as Michael S. Waterman, a pioneer in sequence alignment algorithms, and Ruth Nussinov, known for her work in protein structure and molecular dynamics. Day-to-day operations are managed by an executive office, with committees overseeing areas like conferences, awards, and publications. The society maintains strong ties with affiliated organizations like the European Conference on Computational Biology (ECCB) and the Asia Pacific Bioinformatics Network (APBioNet).

Activities and programs

A core activity is organizing prestigious annual conferences, most notably the ISMB conference, often held in conjunction with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and other partners. The society also runs specialized meetings like the Conference on Research in Computational Molecular Biology (RECOMB) and regional events such as the African Society for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (ASBCB) conference. It actively promotes education and training through its Student Council and programs like the ISCB Academy, which offers online courses and webinars. Furthermore, ISCB advocates for the field through public policy engagement and support for early-career researchers via travel fellowships to attend its major events.

Awards and recognition

ISCB confers several high-profile awards to honor excellence in the field. The top honor is the ISCB Senior Scientist Award, given to established leaders for sustained contributions, with past recipients including David Haussler of the UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute and Peer Bork from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory. The ISCB Overton Prize recognizes outstanding early to mid-career scientists, while the ISCB Fellow program inducts members for distinguished service and achievement. The society also sponsors the Benjamin Franklin Award for open access in the life sciences and bestows conference-specific awards for best papers and posters at events like ISMB and RECOMB.

Publications and resources

While not a primary publisher, the society maintains a close relationship with key academic journals in the field, including Bioinformatics, published by Oxford University Press, and PLOS Computational Biology. It provides members with discounted subscriptions and supports community resources such as the ISCB Career Center and a comprehensive digital library of conference presentations and tutorials. The society’s website and newsletters serve as vital hubs for disseminating job announcements, conference news, and updates on initiatives from partner institutions like the National Institutes of Health and the Wellcome Trust.

Category:Scientific organizations Category:Computational biology Category:International professional associations