The value of learned societies in the biological sciences: benefits, threats, and futures

Montagnes, David J. S., Dacks, Joel B., Dolan, John R., Edgcomb, Virginia, Foster, Rachel, Nisbet, R. Ellen R., Tsaousis, Anastasios D. (2026) The value of learned societies in the biological sciences: benefits, threats, and futures. BMC Biology, . ISSN 1741-7007. (doi:10.1186/s12915-026-02583-x) (Access to this publication is currently restricted. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:113979)

PDF Publisher pdf Language: English Restricted to Repository staff only
Contact us about this publication
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-026-02583-x

Abstract

Learned societies play a vital role in fostering interactions that are important in scholarly discourse and the advancement of biological sciences. However, they now face threats from declining funding and membership, shifting disciplinary boundaries, changing approaches towards digital communication, and academic marketization. We outline the historical development of these societies and propose ways to sustain them. Key considerations include improving meetings, adapting publishing models, ensuring financial stability, expanding membership, strengthening outreach, and managing increasingly broad remits. Our main aim is to examine how regional learned societies can maintain their roles to support scientific progress and enrich broader society.

Item Type:	Article
DOI/Identification number:	10.1186/s12915-026-02583-x
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General)
Institutional Unit:	Schools > School of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
Former Institutional Unit:	There are no former institutional units.
Depositing User:	Anastasios Tsaousis
Date Deposited:	21 Apr 2026 19:18 UTC
Last Modified:	21 Apr 2026 19:18 UTC
Resource URI:	https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/113979 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Depositors only (login required):

Altmetric

Total Views

Total unique views of this page since July 2020. For more details click on the image.