Chapter Two - Growth and professionalisation: towards a national, professional and scientific society

Abstract

Immediately after its establishment, the Australian Society for Microbiology began to thrive. The founders of the ASM had been correct in their assessment of the need for the Society. By the second decade of its existence, membership numbers had swelled to over 1200. The services it provided for members had also diversified as the Society consolidated and became a strong voice of microbiology in Australia. Not only did the number of members grow, but the Scientific Meetings became more frequent and attracted international speakers, the committees on which the ASM was asked to be represented became more numerous, and the activities in which the Society was involved continued to grow. The needs of members also began to change. It soon became clear that the structure of the ASM needed be addressed so that the Society could adapt to the changing roles it was being called upon to play.