Vereinigung für Allgemeine und Angewandte Mikrobiologie

The Vereinigung für Allgemeine und Angewandte Mikrobiologie (VAAM) is a German scientific association for general and applied microbiology. It was founded in 1985 in Würzburg and is registered as a non-profit association (e.V.). Its roots go back to the Local Branch of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) in the Federal Republic of Germany, which was initiated in 1973 and held its first official meeting in Bonn in 1975. The VAAM brings together about 3,500 microbiologically oriented scientists. Its mission is to promote scientific exchange and cooperation among its members, with the goal of translating microbiological research results for the benefit of society and the environment. The association organizes a large annual conference covering all areas of microbiology, maintains 19 specialist groups that hold their own symposia and workshops, and publishes the magazine BIOspektrum seven times a year in cooperation with other German scientific societies. It supports early-career researchers through doctoral prizes, mentoring, travel grants, and reduced fees at conferences, and runs an online lecture series called the VAAM Industry-Academia Panel. It awards scientific prizes including the VAAM Research Prize and the VAAM Innovation Prize. The VAAM cooperates with other scientific societies such as DGHM, GBM, GASB, GfG, DECHEMA, and VBIO, and is a member of the German National Committee for Biology and the Association for Biology, Biosciences and Biomedicine in Germany (VBIO). It also engages the public through initiatives such as the 'Microbe of the Year' competition for pupils and students.

The Vereinigung für Allgemeine und Angewandte Mikrobiologie e.V. (VAAM) was founded in 1985 in Würzburg. Its roots lie in the Local Branch ('Lokaler Ast') of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) in the Federal Republic of Germany. In 1973, the then President of the ASM, Dr. Robert Hungate (Davis, CA), suggested the founding of a Local Branch of the ASM in the Federal Republic of Germany and pointed to the ASM's support through guest speakers. According to the ASM statutes, more than 25 ASM members in Germany voted for this option. Thus, in 1975 the first official meeting took place in Bonn, where the board was also elected. Until 1956, there had been only one chair for microbiology at a natural science/agricultural faculty, at the University of Göttingen, established in 1902. In parallel, medical microbiology had organized itself as early as 1906 as the 'freie Vereinigung für Mikrobiologie'. At the congress in Würzburg in 1922, this was renamed 'Deutsche Vereinigung für Mikrobiologie', and then in 1949 at the congress in Frankfurt it received its still valid name 'Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie'. In 1956, further chairs for microbiology were established in the natural science faculties in Frankfurt and Hamburg, followed by numerous professorships in the 1960s and 1970s. This generation of microbiologists oriented themselves toward American research habits and emphasized basic research. They were also free of professional and social ambitions. Improving contacts between younger and older colleagues and with students was an important goal. The subsequent meetings of the Local Branch of the ASM took place after the ... [text truncated in source]. The VAAM was thus founded in 1985 as an independent German society, building on this tradition. Since then, it has grown to about 3,500 members and established itself as a key forum for microbiologists in Germany, organizing annual conferences, specialist groups, and public outreach such as the 'Microbe of the Year' competition.

• 2008

  VAAM Research Prize awarded for the first time on 10 March 2008.

• 1985

  VAAM founded in Würzburg.

• 1975

  First official meeting of the ASM Local Branch in Bonn; board elected.

• 1973

  ASM President Dr. Robert Hungate suggests founding a Local Branch of the ASM in the Federal Republic of Germany.

• 1956

  Further chairs for microbiology established in Frankfurt and Hamburg.

• 1949

  Renamed 'Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie' at the Frankfurt congress.

• 1922

  Renamed 'Deutsche Vereinigung für Mikrobiologie' at the Würzburg congress.

• 1906

  Medical microbiology organizes as 'freie Vereinigung für Mikrobiologie'.

• 1902

  Chair for microbiology established at the University of Göttingen.

Non-profit scientific society promoting microbiology research and its application for society and the environment.

• Jahrestagung (annual conference)

  Large annual conference covering all areas of microbiology.

• BIOspektrum

  Specialist and member magazine published seven times a year in cooperation with GBM, GfG, and DGPT.

• VAAM Industry-Academia Panel

  Online lecture series on current topics in applied microbiology.

• VAAM-Forschungspreis

  Research prize for outstanding current research in microbiology, endowed with €10,000, awarded annually at the annual conference.

• VAAM-Innovationspreis

  Innovation prize for early-career scientists in academia and industry.

• VAAM Mentoring

  Mentoring program for early-career researchers.

1. 1VAAM - Vereinigung für Allgemeine und Angewandte Mikrobiologievaam.de
2. 2Geschichte / VAAM - Vereinigung für Allgemeine und Angewandte Mikrobiologie e.V.vaam.de
3. 3Vereinigung für Allgemeine und Angewandte Mikrobiologiewikidata.org
4. 4Vereinigung für Allgemeine und Angewandte Mikrobiologiede.wikipedia.org