() invites qualified individuals to become members of the Society. From its inception in 1888, the Society has been guided by scientists who are invested in the and its future. Under authority established by the Board of Trustees, members of the Society serve in an advisory capacity and as a resource to provide scientific and other guidance at the request of the leadership.
The Society has hundreds of Members and Emeritus Members, who comprise scientists, dedicated alumni, and committed and informed friends with a history of discovery at, commitment to, and interest in the and its programs.
Members of the Society are led by a Speaker of the Society who is appointed by members of the Society. The current Speaker is Anne Hart and she is guided by an Society Steering Committee.
More information on the Society can be found in the Bylaws and the Society Membership Criteria and Procedures document. The latter document was adopted by the Director in July 2020 and is primarily based on two Society proposals approved by majority vote of Society members in August 2019. To ensure the adopted procedures are compliant with the ’s governing Bylaws, minor modifications were made to procedures outlined in the two Society proposals; this resulted in the final 2020 Criteria and Procedures document found here. Membership dues were eliminated in the original two proposals and, consequently, also eliminated in the final Criteria and Procedures document. The two original Society proposals can be found here.
Why Join the Society? We hope you will help grow the Society by to embracing your history with the and applying for membership.
As a Society member you:
- Are invited to participate in the Society Annual Meeting and reception
- Are eligible for nomination of and election to the Society Science Council and the Society Community Council
- Are eligible for nomination of and election as Speaker of the Society*
- Will receive regular communication from the Society Science Council and Community Council Chairs following Council meetings
- Have year-round access to the Lillie Library on weekdays, 9am – 5pm, and you are eligible to apply for extended hours across seven days per week, 7am – 11pm
- Receive free online subscription to the Biological Bulletin
- Receive a discount (10%) at the Gift Shop
* Students and postdoctoral Fellows not eligible
Annual Renewal:
To remain a Society member in good standing, members (excluding Emeritus members) must opt-in yearly via annual Society reminders sent to members. For additional questions regarding the renewal process, you may contact mblsociety@mbl.edu.
In lieu of dues, annual donations to the Annual Fund are encouraged and are tax-deductible to the Society member.
Minimum suggested level of donation:
Regular Investigators $100
Beginning Investigators $50
Postdoctoral Researchers and Graduate Students $25
Emeritus Members $100
Applying for Society Membership
A complete application includes: 1) a filled-in application form, 2) a CV, and 3) two endorsements by current Society members. To use the form, you must have the latest version of Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.
The application form should be filled out, saved, and e-mailed with your CV as an attachment to Society@mbl.edu. Endorsements may be e-mailed separately to Society@mbl.edu. The Science Council and Community Council will review applications for approval at their meetings during the year.
Society Annual Meeting
The Speaker of the Society presides over an Annual Meeting each summer for Members and Emeritus Members in good standing. The Director and the Chairs of Science and Community Councils provide annual reports during the Business Meeting. The meeting emphasizes transformative ideas and cutting-edge research being conducted by scientists throughout the , and the highlight is a scientific symposium, bringing renewed emphasis and engagement of the Society in the ’s scientific mission and new strategic directions.
Science Council
ճ Science Council is an advisory group consisting of not more than 15 scientists elected by Members of the Society in good standing. Science Council is one of the major advisory groups that provide their support, knowledge, and experience to the leadership of the .
Community Council
ճ Community Council is an advisory group consisting of not more than 15 members elected by Members of the Society in good standing. Community Council will advise on general aspects of community life connected to and essential for the research and education missions, but not the research or education missions themselves.