MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Society is open to all qualified persons and organizations engaged in the study, teaching, advocacy, practice, regulating, and application of synthetic biology, biosecurity, AI, and other associated multi-disciplinary sciences. Members are expected to maintain current and committed payment of dues and levies as determined by the Executive Council with the approval of the Board of Trustees. Failure to pay dues for two years will result in loss of membership or affiliation with the Society. Each member or affiliate is obligated to further the goals, interests, and influence of the Society to the best of their ability.
Membership Catergories
Student Membership
Persons who are undergraduate students will be eligible for Student Membership in the Society, if he/she is engaged in the study of Life Sciences especially Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biological Sciences, Bioinformatics, related Engineering, Artificial Intelligence and any other related courses as approved by the Executive Council in any tertiary institution in Africa recognized for the purpose by the Society. A Student Member shall have all the rights and privileges of an active member as designated by the Society except the right to vote or hold office.
Graduate Membership
Graduate Membership is open to any person in and or from Africa who is unemployed Graduate Student, Postgraduate Student and whose application is endorsed by a mentor or Faculty member who attests to the interest of the candidate in the course of studies as mentioned in student membership. Graduate members may not vote, hold elective office or nominate new members. Graduate members are eligible for automatic upgrade to Associate Membership by certifying that they have attained the necessary qualifications. Graduate members may remain in this status for a maximum number of years as may be determined by the Executive Council and approved by Board of Trustees.
Affiliate Membership
Affiliate Membership is open to persons, associations, agencies, companies or organizations that support the mission and focus of the Society but not eligible for Full or Associate Membership because they do not practice in Africa or studying in Africa. The persons in this category would typically include those working in government or non-governmental or non-profit or academic / research organizations / institutions and members of the public with a strong interest in activities of synthetic biology, biosecurity, AI and associated multi-discipline. Affiliate Members shall enjoy all privileges of Full Membership, except holding elective office, voting right and endorsing new members. An Affiliate Member may be upgraded to Full Membership or Fellow Membership upon fulfilling any necessary requirement.
Associate Membership
Associate membership shall be open to persons that do not have a degree (or equivalent) in the study courses as mentioned in student membership. They may possess degrees allied to life sciences, or other qualifications approved by the Executive Council with a strong interest in activities of synthetic biology, biosecurity and associated multi-discipline. This category is also open to persons that have obtained a postgraduate degree in study disciplines mentioned in student membership. Associate members shall enjoy all privileges of full Membership, except holding elective office, right to vote and endorsing new members. This class cannot be upgraded to Full Membership except upon fulfilling any necessary requirement as may be specified by the Executive Council and approved by Board of Trustees.
Honorary Membership
This category of membership shall consist of individuals that have contributed significantly to the objectives and growth of the Society in their areas of practice within or outside Africa. Admission to honorary Membership would be by invitation extended by the Society. Such members may be regarded as observers in the ASSB’s activities but may not vote. Honorary Membership shall remain valid indefinitely subject to approval of the Society. Honorary member can be upgraded to Honorary Fellow upon fulfilling any necessary requirement as may be specified by the Executive Council and approved by Board of Trustees.
Corporate Membership
This category is for Organization, Institution, Agency, Company or any Corporate Body within Africa which encourages, promotes, applies and /or regulates the advancement of synthetic biology, biosecurity and other associated multi-discipline. Such a Corporate Member shall enjoy all rights and privileges of an active full member.
Full Membership
This category is for all career active persons within Africa involved in any form of practice of synthetic biology, biosecurity or their associated multi-disciplinary sciences. This includes early, mid and senior career persons. A full member shall enjoy all privileges such as holding elective office, right to vote, endorsing new members and sponsoring papers for non-members at the Annual Scientific Meetings.
Fellow Membership
A Fellow of the Society will be a distinguished category of member with all rights and privileges of a full member and other ones conferred by the Fellowship category as may be prescribed by Executive Council and approved by the Board of Trustees from time to time. This membership is upon recommendations from the Executive Council with the approval of the Board of Trustees and confirmation by the College of Fellows (as may so establish by the Society) in view of their contributions to the focus of the Society. There will also be Honorary Fellow who may not necessary be Honorary member. Honorary Fellow Membership is upon recommendation, approval and confirmation as stipulated for a Fellow Membership. A Fellow or Honorary Fellow of the Society is recognized for valuable and selfless service to ASSB and the society. A Fellow will in addition be widely acknowledged authority in his/her area of practice.