The committee of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Scientists of Great Britain - recently formed through the merger of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Pharmaceutical Sciences Group and the UK Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists - has chosen to stand down to allow the academy to make a fresh start under a new committee.
The transitional committee, which consisted of all the members of both former committees, made its decision at its inaugural meeting on February 10. It was felt that the membership of the new organisation would wish to see a new committee take office as soon as possible.
The committee's decision took immediate effect. Until a new committee has been elected, Professor David Thurston and Dr Colin Pouton will continue as joint chairmen on a caretaker basis. Professor Thurston and Dr Pouton chaired the group and the association, respectively, at the time of the merger. The new committee will appoint a chairman at its first meeting, in May.
Nominations for membership of the new committee are already being sought (see Official Notice, p311). The closing date for nominations is March 31. Election forms will be sent to all academy members early in April and must be returned by April 30.
The result of the election will be declared on May 7. The nine members elected will be placed in rank order, with the top three serving on the committee until September, 2004, the next three serving until September, 2003, and the final three serving until September, 2002. From 2002, there will be an annual election of three members of the committee.
Participants at the first and only meeting of the interim committee: (front, left to right) Dr John Clements (the Society's science secretary), Professor Tony Moffat (the Society's chief scientist), Professor Martyn Davies (Conference Science Chairman), Dr Pouton and Professor Thurston (co-chairmen), Dr Rosemary Leak, Dr Carol Thomson, Professor Graham Buckton, Professor Paul Spencer; (rear, left to right) Dr Richard Franklin, Dr Diane Wilkinson, Professor Duncan Craig, Professor Ian Stratford, Dr Janine Bragger, Dr Barbara Conway, Professor Chris Marriott, Dr Geoff Hanlon, Dr Nigel Cussans, Professor Paul Nicholls |