Dear SMBE members,

In our efforts to improve to improve Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Access within our society and the wider field of Molecular Biology & Evolution, we are delighted to announce our 2023 call for proposals to address these issues is now open! Up to $25k is available to fund projects that support these goals. Please see the IDEA website (https://www.smbe.org/smbe/IDEAINITIATIVES.aspx), and check out our call for proposals (http://www.smbe.org/smbe/IDEAINITIATIVES/IDEAInitiativeCallforProposals.aspx).

Additionally, we are also looking for new committee members to join the IDEA taskforce. If you are passionate about helping improve DEI within SMBE and the field of Molecular Biology & Evolution, then please do check out the call for new members here (http://www.smbe.org/smbe/IDEAINITIATIVES/CallforNewTaskForceMembers.aspx).

There will be an IDEA symposium at this year’s meeting in Ferrara, so if you would like to hear more about this initiative, please do check it out. Many of the IDEA committee will also be attending the meeting, so do feel free to get in touch if you would like to chat.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Ravinder Kanda

(On behalf of the SMBE IDEA task committee)