Microbiological Society

(All-Union Microbiological Society), a scientific association of Soviet scientists and specialists in general, industrial, and agricultural microbiology.

The All-Union Microbiological Society was organized in 1957 under the auspices of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (AN SSSR). The rules of the society were adopted and a Central Council elected in 1960. As of 1972, the society had more than 3,600 individual members and 42 member collectives. There are 30 branches located in the various republics and major cities of the USSR.

The principal goals of the Microbiological Society include cooperation in the development of all branches of microbiology, the implementation of microbiological achievements in the national economy of the USSR, advanced training aid to members of the society, the improvement of microbiology instruction and research, popularization of and publicity for the scientific and practical achievements of microbiology, and cooperation in the development of scientific ties with foreign scientists. The society sponsors congresses, conferences, lecture series, talks, and advanced-training seminars. Together with the Institute of Microbiology of the AN SSSR, it publishes the annual Uspekhi mikrobiologii (Progress in Microbiology) and the proceedings of the society’s congresses, conferences, and seminars. The presidents of the society have been A. A. Imshenetskii (1960–63), E. N. Mishustin (1963–68), I. L. Rabotnova (1968–71), and M. N. Meisel’ (since 1971).