by Tomáš Pánek
Nominating Committee and Officer Elections
The call for nominations for leadership roles was announced, but no nominations were received by the February 1st deadline. The Nomination Committee is actively seeking candidates to provide the final list to the Executive Secretary by April 1st, 2025.
Constitution Committee Chair Appointment
Dr. Alexander Tice (Texas Tech University) was appointed as the new Chair of the Constitution Committee. The EC unanimously approved his nomination, and he was formally appointed by the ISOP President.
Affiliate Society Membership and Dues Structure
In a significant move to expand ISOP’s reach and membership base, the EC approved a plan for a new structure for affiliate societies. Two models were considered: 1. a progressive fee based on membership size and 2. a flat fee. After discussions, the EC approved the flat fee model and suggested charging $200 annually per affiliate society. This model will allow affiliates to apply for ISOP funding and provide benefits like reduced conference registration fees. ISOP will continue to develop and formalize agreements with affiliate societies in the coming months. The final proposal will be presented to the Membership, along with the accompanying Bylaws amendments.
Additionally, a new category for “joint members” will be introduced for individuals from affiliate societies paying the flat fee. These members will not receive ISOP membership benefits and they will not pay any individual fees to ISOP. A formal Bylaws amendment to create this category will be discussed further in the March EC meeting.
Communications and Newsletter Updates
The Communications Committee has made significant progress in improving the society’s communication channels. The first issue of the Protistology Newsletter was successfully published in November 2024, and the second issue is scheduled for release on February 28, 2025. A subscription module for the newsletter has been implemented, and the website’s infrastructure has been enhanced for a better user experience. The newsletter will now be published quarterly, with deadlines for the next issues set for May 15th, 2025 and August 15th, 2025. Newsletter subscription is open to all individuals regardless of their Membership status.
In addition to the Protistology Newsletter, the committee is exploring ways to enhance ISOP’s social media presence. The EC has decided to maintain ISOP’s Facebook and LinkedIn accounts, establish a presence on BlueSky, and leave the X/Twitter account inactive for now. E-mail will remain the primary platform for official announcements.
Mentoring Program Proposal
A proposal for establishing a Mentoring Program was introduced by Tomáš Pánek. The program would pair junior scientists with senior ISOP members for guidance on career decisions, applications, and professional development. Details will be discussed further in a separate meeting. The EC expressed general support for the initiative, recognizing the value of providing structured mentorship for career growth.
Awards Committee
The EC has set the 2025 travel awards budget at $45,000 USD. The Awards Committee finalized the application form for student travel awards. The EC also approved a motion to transfer responsibility for selecting Honorary Members and managing the In Memoriam list to the Past President (Anna Karnkowska). A subcommittee is working on developing new awards to recognize long-term contributions to the field, aiming to honor individuals with significant career achievements.
Program Committee and Upcoming Meetings
ISOP received a number of high-quality proposals for ISOP-funded symposia at the 2025 ICOP-ISOP conference in Seoul. The Program Committee selected the following two symposia, each funded with 6000 USD to cover the travel expenses of active speakers:
Environmental Sensing, Responses, and Differentiation in Protists
- Núria Ros i Rocher | Institut Pasteur, France
- Michelle M. Leger | Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Japan
Survival is Complex! Traits of Bioenergetic Enzyme Complexes in Protists from Diverse Niches
- Lilach Sheiner | University of Glasgow, UK
The program will also include student events and a Protist Pub Trivia night
In 2026, ISOP will host its meeting in Prague (Czech Republic), with the dates set for April 19-23, 2026. Discussions are ongoing for the 2027 ECOP-ISOP meeting in Canterbury, UK, and the 2028 meeting, which could be held in South America or Mexico City.
Historian
The historian is retiring. Candidates are still being sought to fill this important position. The society’s archives are housed at the Albin O. Kuhn Library, University of Maryland, USA.
Business Advisory Committee
The society’s financial standing remains healthy, with the Business Advisory Committee continuing to monitor and strategize for the future. A report on the society’s financial health will be presented in March, and membership statistics from the past 15 years (provided by Membership Secretary G. Langlois) will be used for planning purposes.
Grants-in-Aid for Affiliates
Executive Committee decided on spending Grants-in-Aid money for 2025 (10,000 USD). Six affiliate societies have submitted grants-in-aid applications for meetings in 2025. All have documented support for students, local speakers, and symposia. More information is available in Vice President Updates.
Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology
EC approved that Associate Editors for JEM will be granted an annual ISOP membership for the year in which they serve on the Editorial Board, to be renewed annually on an individual basis in January of the calendar year.
Conclusion and Looking Ahead
The January and February EC meetings marked a busy start to 2025 for ISOP. Key decisions were made to improve membership engagement, enhance communication, and plan for upcoming meetings. Looking ahead, the March EC meeting will focus on finalizing the Bylaws adjustment for affiliate membership and continuing work on the strategic plan. The upcoming ICOP/ISOP meeting in Seoul, South Korea promises to be a significant event, and the 2026 ISOP meeting in Prague, organized by Sina Adl, Micah Dunthorn, Julius Lukeš, and Tomáš Pánek, is already taking shape. ISOP continues to strengthen its position as a leading society for protistologists and remains dedicated to supporting the advancement of protistology worldwide.
