President’s Newsletter: May 2026
Dear BTS Members,
As I begin my term as President, I want to start by thanking everyone involved in organising and running the 2026 Annual Congress in Solihull, in whatever capacity. The success of the Congress depends entirely on your dedication, skill and time. It is appreciated by all those attending.
For those of you who were able to be there I am sure you will agree that this year’s Annual Congress was inspiring. Thank you all for your input without which the Annual Congress would not be the success it is. Thanks to Lottie and her team and EBS for all the support provided in ensuring the Congress ran smoothly.
I would also like to acknowledge our corporate sponsors and donors who support the Society year on year. You are friends as well as sponsors. Thank you.
During the Congress, I had several conversations about the importance of meeting in person. We have all become rather too accustomed to online interactions. That is not a criticism; virtual meetings are excellent for straightforward business matters or seminars. They save time and money. What they cannot replicate are the spontaneous, unexpected conversations, the nugget of insight that emerges only when speaking face-to-face. These interactions, and the value they generate are largely lost online. In person, we also benefit from non-verbal communication and the chance to build, or mend, relationships, something far harder to achieve through a screen. Further the convenience of online meetings has led to their proliferation, leaving many of us with less time to think, reflect, and create. That is not good. For all these reasons, I am delighted that so many of you made the effort to attend the Congress in person. I hope we can extend this spirit of in-person engagement to more BTS meetings throughout the year.
I thank all who serve the Society as volunteers in whatever capacity. You carve time out of already demanding schedules to support the BTS. I want you to know how deeply this is valued. The Society simply could not function without your expertise, your energy, and your commitment. Please consider yourselves all recipients of a well-deserved BTS gold star.
To you our members, I would like to thank you all for your continued support of your Society which clearly shows your commitment to the BTS. I appreciate that not everyone is able to attend the Annual Congress for a variety of reasons. I hope instead events organised by the Ambassadors and the Speciality Sections through the year provide opportunities for everyone to network with other members. If you are not already a member there are benefits to joining and membership application forms can be found here on the BTS website.
The BTS website is a great resource for our members and a focal point for the Society. It has flourished with the expert support and input of the Webmaster, Mr Adam Sewell. Adam is always open to receiving suggestions on any improvements to the website and you can email him on webmasterbts@thebts.org.
As Phil noted in his February 2026 newsletter, our bid to host EUROTOX 2029 in Birmingham was unsuccessful. However, we learned a great deal from the process and have been invited to bid again; this time for EUROTOX 2030. I believe we stand an excellent chance. Should we be successful, EUROTOX 2030 will take place in Birmingham.
At the start of each Presidency, we review the BTS strategy. Our current strategy runs through to 2028, but it may now require some revision. In reviewing it myself, I noticed that important areas such as Education and Science are not as prominent as I felt they should be. We also do not have a pillar on Respect which incorporates equality of views, and equality in the presentation and reception of views. I will be exploring these ideas with the Officers to see if we need to make some changes. I do want to emphasise though that this is not about starting a new strategy. This is about evolving the one we have and ensuring its continued relevance.
As a new initiative I would like to highlight the work of one BTS group in each of my newsletters. This time, I want to recognise our Ambassadors. I attended their meeting in Solihull and was struck by their enthusiasm and commitment to promoting the BTS and expanding our outreach. Thank you, Ambassadors; you are doing terrific work.
One person at least was very happy at the Congress as her team Ipswich beat QPR and got promoted back to the Premier League. I have close connections in Ipswich having grown up just a few miles south in Essex. Another friend of mine supports Coventry and was similarly happy. Two other teams I keep an eye on, Leicester and Oxford – not quite such good news.
Finally, if any of you listen to Classic FM, you may know the “Three Little Words” competition on the breakfast show. I enjoy it, so I have created a toxicological version for you—an easy one to start with below.
This substance can be lethal in humans: lectin, ribosome, umbrella
Your General Secretary found this far too easy and it is a lot simpler than the NEST quiz. So, I will add a little. Additionally explain as well the linkage between the words. No ‘Googling.’
Answers in the next newsletter.
With best wishes
Tim
Professor Tim Gant
President BTS
