The merger of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Pharmaceutical Sciences Group and the UK Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (PJ, December 11, p939) is a major step forward for pharmaceutical sciences in the United Kingdom, according to the chairmen of the two bodies.
The new Academy of Pharmaceutical Scientists of Great Britain will have the benefit of enlarged membership, economy of scale in the staging of conferences and symposia, and a consolidated international image, say Professor David Thurston (PSG) and Dr Colin Pouton (Ukaps) in a joint letter to members of both groups. Most importantly, they add, it will promote collegiality among pharmaceutical scientists in the UK.
A constitution for the new group was drawn up by a working party of members of the executives of both groups and was formally accepted by the Society's Council on December 1. The executive committee of the academy will initially consist of the combined executives from both organisations. A meeting will be held early in the new year to elect a new chairman and officers.
Professor Thurston and Dr Pouton say that the academy will have greater autonomy than the PSG while remaining under the auspices of the Society, which will continue to provide financial support. Its executive will include two members of the Society's Council.