Society for Developmental Biology

Society for Developmental Biology
Name	Society for Developmental Biology
Founded	0 1939
Founder	Jane M. Oppenheimer et al.
Location	Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Focus	Developmental biology
Website	https://www.sdbonline.org/

Society for Developmental Biology. The Society for Developmental Biology is a premier professional organization dedicated to advancing the field of developmental biology. Founded in 1939, it serves a global community of scientists investigating the processes by which organisms grow and develop. The society promotes research, education, and public understanding through its meetings, publications, and advocacy efforts, fostering collaboration among researchers from diverse institutions like the Marine Biological Laboratory and Stanford University.

History

The society traces its origins to a small group of pioneering embryologists, including Jane Oppenheimer, who formally established it in 1939. Early meetings were often held in conjunction with other scientific societies, such as the American Society of Zoologists, and frequently took place at venues like the University of Chicago. Key historical figures in its growth include Viktor Hamburger and John Tyler Bonner, whose work helped define the discipline's modern scope. The post-war era, influenced by advances from the Cold War and institutions like the National Institutes of Health, saw the field and the society expand rapidly, incorporating new techniques from molecular biology and genetics.

Mission and activities

Its central mission is to promote the study of developmental biology and support scientists at all career stages. Core activities include organizing the annual SDB Annual Meeting, providing educational resources for educators at places like the University of California, Berkeley, and advocating for research funding before bodies like the United States Congress. The society actively engages in public policy discussions, often collaborating with coalitions like the American Institute of Biological Sciences, to support scientific enterprise and literacy. It also runs specialized programs, such as the Minority Affairs Committee, to foster diversity within the STEM community.

Publications

The society's flagship publication is the peer-reviewed journal Developmental Biology, which has been a cornerstone of the literature since its acquisition in 1959. It also publishes the open-access journal Developmental Cell in partnership with Cell Press, featuring high-impact research on cellular mechanisms. For its membership, it produces the newsletter The SDB Newsletter, which reports on society news and field updates. These publications frequently feature groundbreaking work from researchers at institutions like the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Max Planck Institute.

Meetings and conferences

Its premier event is the annual SDB Annual Meeting, a major international conference that rotates locations to venues such as the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina and the Washington State Convention Center. The society also co-sponsors specialized meetings like the International Society of Developmental Biologists Congress and the Pan-American Society for Developmental Biology conference. Regional meetings, including the Midwest Drosophila Conference and the Northeast Regional Society for Developmental Biology meeting, provide additional forums for presentation and networking among scientists from Harvard University to the University of Tokyo.

Awards and honors

The society bestows several prestigious awards to recognize excellence in the field. The highest honor is the Conklin Medal, named for early embryologist Edwin Grant Conklin, awarded for a lifetime of distinguished service. Other major awards include the SDB Lifetime Achievement Award, the SDB Viktor Hamburger Award for education, and the SDB John Tyler Bonner Award for transformative research. Early-career researchers are honored through the SDB Emerging Researcher Award, and travel grants are provided to support attendance at the annual meeting, often funded by endowments from benefactors like the Gordon Research Conferences.

Governance and membership

Governance is led by an elected President and a Board of Directors that includes representatives from major research centers like the Stowers Institute for Medical Research. The society's operational headquarters are located in Bethesda, Maryland, near key funding agencies like the National Science Foundation. Membership is open to scientists globally, with categories for professionals, postdoctoral researchers, and students from institutions worldwide. Key committees, such as the Program Committee and the Public Affairs Committee, oversee specific initiatives, working in tandem with affiliated organizations like the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.

Category:Developmental biology organizations Category:Scientific societies based in the United States Category:Organizations established in 1939