ASBMB Council roundup: February 2025

The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Council met virtually on February 10 to review programmatic activity, discuss policy and the external environment and review multiple governance documents and policies for approval, including a final draft of the ASBMB 2025-2029 strategic plan. 

ASBMB President Joan Conaway and CEO Mona Miller provided brief updates on recent ASBMB activity, and both acknowledged the quickly evolving external environment.  

A strategic plan for ASBMB 

Council reviewed a draft strategic plan, which was the culmination of a nearly year-long process of soliciting input and planning. In December 2024, Council met to draft the plan. That draft was circulated to Council for comment and amendment ahead of the December meeting. Councilors discussed how a strategic plan defines important areas of emphasis, focusing its efforts to serve evolving organizational and member needs and making sure it maintains financial stability in changing environments.  

After discussion, Council approved the strategic plan, which will guide the organization for the next three to five years. In addition to three- to five-year goals, the plan set a long-term vision and set of values for the organization meant to guide work far into the future. The plan will be released publicly in April.  

Meeting innovation 

Roya Jaseb, director of meetings, presented early findings of a Meeting Innovation Task Force that worked in conjunction with a consulting firm to assess ASBMB annual meeting’s evolving purpose, value proposition and audience needs. Councilors were pleased to hear of near-term innovation efforts for 2025 with pioneering featured speakers, program adjustments, new session types and forward-thinking approaches for 2026 being considered by the meeting’s cochairs. 

Accreditation updates 

Education and Professional Development Committee chair Nathan Vanderford and accreditation subcommittee chair John Tansey joined the meeting to present an update on ASBMB’s successful undergraduate accreditation program and a recommendation to streamline the renewal process for fully accredited programs. Council voiced enthusiastic support for efficiencies the new renewal process would introduce and approved the plan for implementation in the next renewal cycle.  The accreditation working group is also interested in exploring ways to expand the reach and impact of the program. Council encouraged that discussion and asked that recommendations growing out of it be presented to the Council for future consideration. 

Commitment to good governance 

Continuing its work to modernize ASBMB’s governance, Council reviewed multiple proposed new policies for approval. To start, Council reviewed and approved two important applications of ASBMB’s professional conduct standards outlined in its code of conduct. Last year, ASBMB Council recognized the continued importance of maintaining professional conduct standards and in January approved a new policy that applies ASBMB professional conduct standards to future ASBMB award nominees. ASBMB considers awards an honor, not a right, and has the sole discretion to choose awardees it thinks best reflect ASBMB standards, including ASBMB’s expectations regarding professional conduct. This new policy will be implemented by the Professional Conduct Working Group of Council during the spring call for award nominations. Detailed information about the purpose and process will be posted on ASBMB’s website.  

Council also approved an updated event code of conduct for ASBMB meetings and events that maintains ASBMB’s commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all participants. 

Later in the meeting, Council reviewed and approved documentation and policy meant to increase transparency and clarity for members. These included a whistleblower protection policy and detailed position descriptions outlining the duties and required qualifications of elected positions. Finally, it codified in policy that journal editor-in-chief appointments and terms are approved by Council. This practice was outlined in the previous bylaws, and the new document ensures it is recorded as a Council-approved policy.  

The final governance item discussed was a shift of ASBMB’s election cycle. Currently, elections occur in May/June ahead of the July 1 start date for all elected positions. To allow for a longer nomination period and more time for newly elected individuals to be oriented to their new positions, ASBMB will begin to open the call for nominations in the fall and hold elections in January of each year (note: ASBMB members are active through January 31 each year). Newly elected Individuals will still take office July 1 annually but may attend spring Council and Committee meetings as guests. Council hopes this will encourage increased participation in elections and strengthen onboarding and training for volunteer leaders.  

The larger policy environment 

Chair of the Public Affairs Advisory Council Ann West joined the call to discuss current ASBMB policy and advocacy strategy, review recent activity by the new administration and outline how ASBMB had responded to date. Focusing the conversation on the effects of recent executive orders and policy statements on our members and implications for ASBMB organizationally, Council and West discussed how to most effectively engage and support affected members. In a rapidly evolving environment, there was wide recognition that focus should remain on issues that are most relevant to the BMB community and that threaten scientific progress.   

In addition, ASBMB created a working group of councilors to assess possible impacts and implications of presidential executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Its charge affirms ASBMB’s long-standing, ongoing commitment to supporting an inclusive scientific work force and community. The working group will consult with the leadership of relevant ASBMB committees, and grants and legal counsel and report back to Council in coming weeks. 

The next ASBMB Council meeting is scheduled for April 10, 2025, in Chicago, IL, in conjunction with the ASBMB Annual Meeting.