New Honorary Members: Joanna Verran and Neil Gow

24 February 2020

The Microbiology Society is delighted to announce that Professor Joanna Verran and Professor Neil Gow have been made Honorary Members of the Society, in recognition of their service to the microbiology community.

Professor Joanna Verran is Emeritus Professor of Microbiology at Manchester Metropolitan University and in addition to her successful laboratory research career, she has been a prolific science communicator and advocate for public engagement. In 2019 she was awarded the Mani L. Bhaumik Award for Public Engagement with Science from the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 2009 Jo set up the Bad Bugs Book Club, to explore how science is represented in fiction. It brings scientists and non-scientists together to read novels where infectious disease is part of the plot and to talk about them. In March, coinciding with World Book Day, the Microbiology Society will launch a set of digital tools and guidance inspired by the Bad Bugs Book Club model, to help share the experience of running a microbiology book club with others in the community. Jo has been a member of the Microbiology Society since 1978, and was heavily involved in our education and communication activities.
 

Professor Neil Gow FRS is Professor of Microbiology and deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Exeter. Known for his discoveries in fungal biology and genetics, morphogenesis and pathogenesis, he is a Fellow of the Royal Society, a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the American Academy of Microbiology. Neil was President of the Microbiology Society from 2016–2018, during which time he oversaw the launch of the Society’s ambitious strategy 2018–2022 and helped create the Early Career Microbiologists’ Forum. Neil has been a member of the Society since 1980.

Honorary Membership is awarded by the Society’s Council to distinguished microbiologists who have made a significant contribution to microbiology.