Welcome to Protistology UK!
Our Learned Society (formerly the British Society for Protist Biology) is a membership organisation for scientists and amateurs interested in all areas of protistology; from ecological to medical and from sub-cellular to population studies. The Society primarily exists to support and promote protistan research and teaching in the UK but a key aim is to encourage the development of young scientists. We host two scientific meetings a year and provide bursaries for student attendance together with prizes for student presentations.
WHO WE ARE
This is the website of the Protistology-UK, formerly known as the British Society for Protist Biology.
P-UK exists:
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To promote the study, teaching and dissemination of all aspects of protistology.
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To provide a forum for the presentation and discussion of results obtained from original research and for an exchange of information on experimental design and techniques.
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To encourage developing and novel aspects of protistology.
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To represent the interests of protistology on other professional bodies.
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To assist young scientists researching in protistology to attend professional meetings.
THE COMMITTEE
President
Treasurer
Past President
Secretary
Vice President - Meeting Coordinator
Publicity Officer - Membership Secretary
Webmaster
Ordinary Member
Ordinary Member
Ordinary Member
MEETINGS
The Protistology-UK is organising a session on "Symbiosis" during the Annual Meeting of the Microbiology Society in Belfast, 04-07 April 2022. The session will take place between the 5th-6th of April.
Invited speakers include:
Nicolas Corradi: The genetics and genome biology of multinucleate arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Gillian Gile: Coevolution between Spirotrichonymphea (Parabasalia) and their termite hosts
Norico Yamada: Re-creation of plastid evolution in model dinoflagellate “dinotoms”
Shady Amin: Diatom modulation of specific bacteria in their microbiome
Kevin Foster: Warfare in bacteria and the microbiome
Ute Hentschel Humeida: Marine sponges as emerging models for host-microbe interactions
Clare Bird: The life and loves of foraminifera: their diverse interactions, and symbionts
We also have open slots for both oral and poster presentations. Please do submit your abstract. Abstract submission deadline: 10th of January 2022.
Information regarding registration and abstract submission can be found here.
Past & Related Meetings
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P-UK Autumn Meeting 2021 - 8th December 2021 (online). Details here.
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From parasites to plankton and back: comparative biology and ecology of apicomplexans and dinoflagellates. 13-17 September 2021. Roscoff, France. Details here.
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Protistology-UK's session Exploring the Eukaryotic Tree of Life - 28th April 2021 during the Annual Conference of the Microbiology Society (online). Details here.
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P-UK Winter meeting 2021: Protist parasites of freshwater microalgae - within the British Phycological Society (BPS) Annual Conference- 8th January 2021 T. Details here.
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Microbial Symbiosis Meeting - December 16-17, 2019. London, UK. Details here.
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Introducing protistology in a fun way to children! Paramecium Press has two books and a video game for young children ready to explore the world of microorganisms.
Aggi and the Mystic Boots - Aggi is too young to join the Dinosaur Explorers Club and the competition for the Jurassic Cup to find the smallest living thing. She stomps off and comes across a Stegosaurus who gives her some Mystic Boots which take her on an underwater adventure.
Blake's Small Adventure - Living in a pool on the marshes, Blake is lonely and dreams of finding friends to play with. Join Blake as the high tide sweeps him away on a hair-raising adventure. Will Blake ever find friends his own size?
Aggi's Tiny friends - Discover a world often unseen that exists in every lake, stream, ocean and even the smallest puddles!
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A PhD position in evolution of chloroplast protein trafficking is available through the South Coast Doctoral Training Programme at the University of Southampton. The project combines molecular, structural and bioinformatic approaches and is co-supervised by Ivo Tews (UoS), Jan Janouskovec (UoS), and Anastasios Tsaousis (U Kent). Application deadline 12th January 2022 - more details here.
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Wondering about the role of protists in a changing environment? Check out P-UK's collaboration The increase in global aquaculture and the associated protists: opportunities and threats in the latest Microbiology Today issue Life on a changing Planet.
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Protistology-UK is saddened to hear from Tom Cavalier-Smith passing on the 19th March 2021. A beautiful tribute to his life and work can be read here.
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The Journal of Marine Science and Engineering is launching a Special Issue entitled "Molecularly Characterizing the Diversity of Marine Microbial Eukaryotes".
This Special Issue calls for original research studies and invites reviews on the taxonomy and phylogeny of microbial eukaryotes, particularly those that molecularly characterize the diversity, activity, ecological function, community organization, and spatial and temporal variations (biogeography) of planktonic and sedimentary microbial eukaryotes, as well as their interactions with organisms at various trophic levels and their physiological and ecological adaptations to specialized niches in natural, artificial, coastal, and marine habitats and systems.
For further information visit the dedicated website here.
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P-UK has partially funded "The hidden world of Testate Amoeba", a beautifully illustrated children's book about the wonderful world of microorganisms and testate amoeba in particular! https://thehiddenworld.co.uk/the-hidden-world-of-testate-amoebae/
