J.Hemmer Dec.19, 1996
Dear collegues,
the idea to found a European Cytometric Society (ECS) has been disussed at the general meeting of the German Cytometric Society (DGZ). Although final decisions have not been made, the plenary agreed in supporting attempts to found a ECS and authorised the board members to enter into discussion on structure and scope of such a society.
That a ECS should support scientific exchange and should catalyse cooperation is nearly not worth mentioning. But there is still a strong need for such activities at European level, particularly in the non-biomedical fields in which only few members of national societies are working. The existence of national societies provides sufficient evidence of their necessity. We do not need further scientific justifications for an improved European cooperation.
I rather would like to address the strategic and political options a ECS would have. Cytometry means more than simply applying tools. It is a discipline of its own as it essentially contributes to our conceptual understanding of cellular functions, dynamics and heterogeneity. But this aspect has not yet been recognised by the majority of the scientific community and even less by those in charge of scientific administration. This is witnessed, for instance, by the experiences many of us have made that articles or grant applications were rejected by referees who obviously are incompetent in cytometry. Thus, activities of a ECS must include to propagate cytometry as a discipline of its own, to advocate establishing of independent cytometry units at university and institute levels, to claim competence in the field of cytometry and by this bringing influence to bear of European Commission funding and assist member societies in national fund raising.
For this, all the national members are needed. I personally would therefore prefer a union or federation of national societies. A new society with individual members would be at high risk of sudden death as most of the colleagues organised at the national level will not apply for membership. Such a rudimentary organisation would define their own aims and scopes which are unavoidably diverging from that of the national societies. A federation can be organised very effectively, the more so as delegates are democratically legitimised by their national organisations. Science is increasingly administered by the European Commission, we therefore need an organisation that represents our interests in Europe.
With best regards
Joerg Hemmer
(President DGZ)