President’s Newsletter Number 8: September 2021

Dear Colleagues

I cannot believe that we are already into the last quarter of 2021! I hope many of you were able to find some time over the last month to have some downtime.

There has been a lot going on over the summer and below are a few highlights. My thanks as ever to my colleagues on the Executive Committee and those on the Subcommittees for the work they do behind the scenes on behalf of the Society. My thanks also are due to our Ambassadors for the support they provide to the Society, to our secretariat, Executive Business Support Limited, for their help and advice, and to you, our members.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Julianna Berrie for her work as the BTS Social Media Specialist for our twitter account. Julianna has played a major role in ensuring the BTS and its events have been well publicised. Julianna is taking up a new role on the Network for Early Stage Toxicologist (NEST) subcommittee, chaired by Dr Nevine Amer. Thank you Juliana for all your efforts as our Social Media Specialist.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank some further companies who have provided donations allowing the Society to support future projects and the 2022 Annual Congress. The companies are:

• Apconix
• AstraZeneca

The Society appreciates that companies may not be able to provide support to the BTS through financial donations, however there are other ways to provide support such as:

• allowing employees to attend the Annual Congress from your organisation.
• supporting the Annual Congress through adverts in the Congress Booklet.
• supporting the Annual Congress by providing Tote bags, pens, lanyards, etc for the event.
• booking a stand to advertise your company at the Exhibitors’ Fayre.

If your company would like to support the Society, please contact our secretariat, Executive Business Services (EBS), by emailing [email protected]  and they would be happy to discuss the various options with you.

Through the generosity of many companies, the BTS is able to support initiatives for the benefit of its members such as bursaries for students and early career toxicologists to enable them to attend our Annual Congress. The Society appreciates all the generous support it receives.

The Executive Committee want to attract more of its members into helping to build the Society to meet the members’ needs and there are often opportunities that arise on our subcommittees, as an Ambassador or supporting the Society through networking and submitting articles to Toxicology Research, the official journal of the Society. If you are interested in being more involved, please send your name and a short statement of what you are interested in, and we will look to see what vacancies are available for you. If you are interested, please contact me via [email protected]

Given our continued use of virtual meeting platforms, we can assure you that wherever you are based across the globe you will be able engage with meetings of the committees and provide valuable feed-in as a committee member-  there will be no barriers in being able to attend meetings.

There are a number of roles currently being advertised and emails have already been sent out to the membership about these but here as a reminder are those posts which are currently being advertised:

1. Opportunities to serve on the Executive Committee from April 2022.

The Executive Committee provides a strategic overview to the running of the Society and provides guidance to the Subcommittees responsible for our scientific meetings, speciality sub-sections, education programme, publicity and communication. Positions available from April 2022 are:

• Vice President –who will normally succeed to President
• Vice Chair Scientific Sub-Committee – who will normally succeed to Chair the Scientific Subcommittee
• Two Ordinary Members– Please note that the current members whose term of office is ending at the Annual General Meeting in April 2022 are eligible for re-election for one further term.

If you are interested in applying for any of these positions, please send

• A short biography (no more than 500 words including a summary of your previous involvement with the BTS or other Professional Societies)
• A recent photograph;
• The names of two referees who will support your application, at least one of whom should be a BTS member.

The BTS values and promotes diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community and we are always keen to encourage applicants from all sectors to consider applying for this role.

Please send your application to [email protected] . Your details will be forwarded to Dr Chris Powell, Chair of the Nominations Subcommittee. Applications to be sent by Close of Business on the 24^th September 2021.

2. Ambassador coordinator

The BTS Ambassador coordinator is the focal point between BTS Ambassadors and the BTS Executive Committee. This role will be to help the BTS build, support, and improve its  network of Ambassadors. The BTS Ambassador scheme aims to deliver and promote the Society’s vision and objectives for the science of toxicology at a local level. The BTS Ambassador coordinator will be a member of the Communication Subcommittee.

The Ambassador coordinator duties and responsibilities are:

• Recruit and maintain the BTS Ambassador network via social media, email and in person at the BTS annual Congress.
• Communicate on a regular basis with BTS Ambassadors to inform them on relevant BTS events, opportunities, and promotions.
• Assist in organisation of BTS local events.
• Identify ways to improve BTS membership for ambassadors and local members.
• Work with the BTS Membership Coordinator to help promote membership benefits.

We are looking for members who are keen to learn and engage with members, non-members, and the general public. Applicants must have been full members of the Society for at least one year.

The BTS values and promotes diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community and we are always keen to encourage applicants from all sectors to consider applying for this role.

Please send your CV and a brief covering letter of no more than 300 words giving your reasons for applying for this role to [email protected]. Applications to be sent by Close of Business on the 24^th September 2021.

3. Social media (Twitter) specialist

The BTS Social Media Specialist for twitter is the key BTS member responsible for managing and using the BTS twitter account. The BTS are seeking to appoint a Social Media (Twitter) specialist.

The duties and responsibilities include:

• Manage and oversee content on the @BritToxSoc Twitter account.
• Membership of  the BTS communication sub-committee
• Ensure content is informative and appealing.
• Monitor and promote membership and engagement of the account.
• Follow other key societies, organisations, and Twitter accounts to keep up to date with relevant developments, events, and news. Engage with these Twitter accounts to increase collaboration and promote our Society.
• Collaborate with various members of the Executive Committee and Subcommittees (e.g., the President, Subcommittee Chairs and LinkedIn specialist) on Twitter content:
  • Reacting in a timely manner to requests for Tweets.
  • Inform the LinkedIn specialist of Tweets to ensure a joined-up approach to social media content.
  • Provide constructive feedback and measurements of reactions/success for Tweets and campaigns.
  • Provide regular summaries of activities and impact to the Chair of the Communications Subcommittee.
• Develop and implement the Society’s social media strategy which is currently under development in order to increase the online presence of the Society.
• Monitor engagement to ensure unwelcome content is not promoted via the @BritToxSoc Twitter account.

We are looking for those who are keen to learn and engage with members, non-members, and the general public. Applicants must have been full members of the Society for at least one year.

The BTS values and promotes diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community and we are always keen to encourage applicants from all sectors to consider applying for this role.

Please send your CV and a brief covering letter of no more than 300 words explaining why you are interested in this role to [email protected]. Applications to be sent by the Close of Business on the 24^th September 2021.

4. Lay Member for the Public Communications Steering Team

The Public Communications Steering Team are looking to appoint a lay (non-scientist) member. The individual would be a co-opted member of the Steering Team but, in all probability, would not be a member of the BTS. This appointment is in response to optimising the accessibility of the Society’s public statements (documents, videos, infographics, etc), taking into consideration the intended broad audience for the statements, which includes the general public as well as Society members and other scientists. To be considered, the applicant must be able to demonstrate that they have the qualities, skills and experience to meet all the essential criteria for the appointment. We are asking our members to speak with those within their own networks to promote this role.

The BTS values and promotes diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community and we are always keen to encourage applicants from all sectors to consider applying for this role.

The closing date for applications is midday on the 30^th September 2021. To apply contact the BTS Secretariat, [email protected].

Click HERE or further information.

5. Project Coordinator

The BTS Executive Committee will be sending out an advert later this month for applications for the role of a Project Coordinator. This role is being set up to help identify and evaluate education and training courses in toxicology and its application in risk assessment which are already available and define remaining gaps in training and education provision.

The Project Coordinator will work with colleagues within the relevant academic institutions, industry, regulatory bodies, societies, and professional bodies to develop mechanisms for identifying and evaluating training courses and defining any gaps in the training offered to safety scientists, particularly in regulatory toxicology.

This appointment will be for a period of up to 6 months and the work will commence no later than January 2022. The post will be remunerated at a daily rate of between £250 and £400 per day, the actual rate being based on the experience and knowledge which the successful candidate brings to the role . The applicant will act in the capacity of a consultant and will NOT be employed by the BTS.

The BTS values and promotes diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community to consider applying for this role.

Further details together with a job specification will be sent out to the membership by email no later than the 20^th September. Applicants will be asked to provide the following:

• A supporting letter demonstrating how each of the criteria as set out in the person specification are met.
• Curriculum Vitae.
• The names of two Referees.

The closing date for applications will be midday on 8^th October 2021.

 Other news and items of interest:

• Nominations for the Paton Prize 2022

Sir William Paton left the BTS a bequest to encourage scholarship in historical aspects of toxicology. This Prize Lecture is awarded biennially at the Annual Congress to a person of senior standing in toxicology. If you are interested, please send a completed application by the Close of Business on the 24^th September 2021 to our secretariat at [email protected]

More information can be found at https://www.thebts.org/events-2/awards-and-prizes/

• Applications for Fellowship of the BTS (FBTS)

Fellows of the British Toxicology Society (FBTS) are members who have demonstrated distinction and peer recognition in Toxicology. There are currently 60 Fellows listed on the BTS website, all of whom have made, and continue to make, substantial contributions to the discipline of Toxicology through their work, publication and presentation of research, leadership, and contribution to the Society, The Executive Committee would like to encourage members to nominate themselves or a fellow member (with the member’s consent) for consideration of being a Fellow of the BTS.

Please see the website https://www.thebts.org/events-2/awards-and-prizes/ for further details and to download an application form. I look forward to receiving applications for Fellowship of the BTS for our members. Closing date for applications is the Close of Business on the 24^th September 2021.

• BTS Annual Congress 2022

As you are aware our Annual Congress will be held in person from the 4th-6th April 2022  at the Hilton, Gateshead. We will be providing some key areas of the Congress online for those unable to attend in person. More information on the Congress to follow via the website, social media and emails over the coming months. I do hope we will see as many of you as possible next year at the Annual Congress.

• Toxicology Research Journal

Toxicology Research is published by Oxford University Press (OUP). Toxicology Research publishes  high quality, cutting edge research that is innovative and has international impact. The journal encourages articles that cover biological, chemical, clinical, or environmental health aspects of the toxic response and the mechanisms involved. More information can be found at: https://academic.oup.com/toxres/pages/About

• NewsFeed

The Editorial Team welcome suggestions for news items to be included in the Newsfeed from members and non-members alike. Please contact the [email protected] if you would like to have something considered.

• Public Statements:

If any of our members have ideas on topics for the website, please send these to Dr Phil Botham wo is Chair of the Public Communications Steering Team, via [email protected]. You can refer to https://www.thebts.org/publicstatements/ to see what is currently on the website. We continue to strive to influence Government policy in relation to human and environmental health and promote the science of toxicology. Two new papers have been uploaded recently which will be of interest:

Assuring the Safety of Cosmetics

Assessment & Management of Chemical Mixtures

• Links with other Societies:

We are grateful to have links with many Societies such as the ACT, BPS, BSTP, IVTS, RSB, RSC, UKEMS and the  UK Register of Toxicologists. These links allow us to provide our membership with opportunities to link to offerings with these Societies such as discounts. For further information please visit the BTS website at https://www.thebts.org/join-the-bts/

• In Memoriam: Dr Malcolm Blackwell

As reported in my last newsletter Dr Malcolm Blackwell, who was the Chief Scientific Officer at Sequani passed away recently due to cancer.

A full tribute can be found here: https://www.thebts.org/news/memorial-dr-malcolm-blackwell/

• Acknowledging the contributions made by two of our eminent scientists, Dr Frank Sullivan and Dr Malcolm Blackwell

Finally, I have pleasure in informing the membership that following discussions with the Executive Committee both Dr Frank Sullivan’s and Dr Malcolm Blackwell’s contributions to Toxicology and the Society will be acknowledge by naming two of our current awards in their honour, namely:

The Early Career Investigator’s Award will now be The Frank Sullivan Award

The Network for Early Stage Toxicologists award which will be presented for the first time in April 2022 will now be The Malcolm Blackwell Award.

The families of both Frank and Malcolm are pleased that they are being honoured in this way. This will take effect immediately and the awards presented in their names will be from the Annual Congress, April 2022.

Do please stay in touch with the Society and if you would like to contact me, please do so via [email protected]

Your sincerely

Professor Shirley Price, President of the BTS

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