Industrial Biochemistry and Biotechnology Group

• Mission Statement
• The Heatley Medal
• Future meetings
• Committee members

The Industrial Biochemistry and Biotechnology Group of The Biochemical Society exists to champion the professional interests of "industrial" biochemists, the more applied aspects of biochemistry, and the various elements of biotechnology.

We are concerned to enhance the awareness of Industry's many biochemical needs amongst academics and to maintain commercial, biochemical capabilities at the forefront of current knowledge and expertise by fostering communication between biochemists and biotechnologists at national and international levels.

The Heatley Medal of the IBBG was established in 1994. The criteria for its award are mainly concerned with achievements within industry. As originally envisaged, the recipient was to have developed a product or process that has been applied to biochemistry or biotechnology in such a way as to have a major impact on the general public or the scientific community. However, it quickly became clear that the IBBG committee had a consensus view of the "spirit" of the Heatly Medal which was significantly wider than that defined by the original criteria. Thus, we concluded that, while the original criteria should stand, we should add additional criteria to extend the scope of the award. The additional criteria are as follows.

The Industrial Biochemistry and Biotechnology Group (IBBG) of The Biochemical Society in London awards (from time to time) the Heatly Medal for exceptional work that makes biochemistry widely accessible and usable, or for achievements which have enabled widespread progress and understanding in the fields of biochemistry and biotechnology.

Such achievements may include the invention and/or development a biochemical or biotechnological technique or method that becomes widely used and cited in research or production. They may also include the writing of a book that has a strong positive impact, or teaching/training, or the production of material (including software and Internet material) that enables progress and understanding in biochemistry or biotechnology.

Nominations for the award of a Heatly Medal may be made by anyone, regardless of their affiliation with the IBBG or The Biochemical Society. Nominations may be made to any member of the organising committee of the IBBG, who have the right and responsibility to judge the nominations and make awards. The committee will make their decision in the light of the quality of the nomination and their awareness of the impact made by the nominee.

Committee members

Future meetings