History

History

   Vision

Vision

   Mission

Mission

   Objectives

Objectives

   Constitution

Constitution

   Governing Council

Governing Council

ASBCB is a non-profit professional association dedicated to the advancement of bioinformatics and computational biology in Africa. Transforming from the African Bioinformatics Network (ABioNET), ASBCB was established in February 2004 at a meeting in Cape Town, South Africa. The Society is serving as an international forum and resource devoted to developing competence and expertise in bioinformatics and computational biology in Africa. It complements its activities with those of other international and national societies, associations and institutions, public and private, that have similar aims. It also promotes the standing of African bioinformatics and computational biology in the global arena through liaison and cooperation with other international bodies.

• Promote the exchange of ideas, infrastructure and resources in the fields of bioinformatics and computational biology and facilitate the interaction and collaboration among scientists and educators around the world.

• Measurably advance the awareness and understanding of the science of bioinformatics and computational biology. The society represents the bioinformatics and computational biology community in Africa and will be the most respected and reliable international non-profit organization representing this community.

• Be a scholarly society dedicated to advancing, developing and promoting bioinformatics and computational biology in Africa.

• Serve a global membership by impacting government and scientific policies, providing high quality publications and meetings, and through distribution of valuable information about training, education, employment and relevant news from related fields.

• Develop the application of bioinformatics in Africa in collaboration with individuals, groups and organizations.

• Identify, promote and establish opportunities for networking.

• Encourage and develop bioinformatics and computational biology nodes.

• Increase awareness and promote the use of bioinformatics and computational biology.

• Facilitate access to bioinformatics and computational biology infrastructure.

• Promote bioinformatics and computational biology education.

CONSTITUTION

1 Name    The name of the Society shall be the "African Society for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology"   (ASBCB)

2 Objectives

The objectives of the Society shall be to:

2.1             Identify, promote and establish opportunities for networking. 

2.2             Encourage and develop bioinformatics and computational biology nodes. 

2.3             Increase awareness and promote the use of bioinformatics and computational biology. 

2.4             Facilitate access to bioinformatics and computational biology infrastructure. 

2.5             Promote bioinformatics and computational biology education. 

3 Guiding Principles

3.1    The Society shall serve as an international catalyst, forum and resource devoted to developing competence and expertise in bioinformatics and computational biology in Africa.

3.2    The Society will in pursuing its objectives, complement its activities with those of other international and national societies, associations and institutions, public and private, that have similar aims. Its activities will, wherever appropriate, be planned and implemented in collaboration with such societies, associations and institutions.

3.3    The Society will promote the standing of African bioinformatics and computational biology in the global arena through liaison and cooperation with other international bodies.

4 Status

4.1    The ASBCB shall be an international scientific Society established with the support of scientists, research and education institutions and industry, governmental and non-governmental organisations, agencies and foundations. The Society shall operate as a non-profit autonomous organization with international status and be non-political in management, staffing and operations. The Society shall be organized exclusively for scientific, developmental and educational purposes.

4.2    The Society shall possess full legal identity and enjoy such legal capacity as may be necessary for the exercise of its functions and the fulfilment of its purposes.

5 Membership

Membership in the society will be respected internationally as an essential demonstration of personal commitment toward the advancement of bioinformatics and computational biology. 

The ASBCB will have four (4) classes of membership, namely:

5.1    Individual Membership

Individual Members shall be individuals and will be open to all scientists resident in Africa, actively engaged in bioinformatics and computational biology and interested in promoting the objects of the Society.

5.2    Student Membership

Student Members shall be full-time students or post-doctoral fellows who are committed to the goals and objectives of the Society, and who wish to participate in and contribute to the development of its programs and initiatives.

5.3       Institutional Membership

Institutional Members shall be affiliate (non-voting in the Governing Council) members, individual institutions from African countries whose mandate is not to represent their parent country but who would be valuable members of this body. Criteria for institutional membership will be based on geographic or networking relevance, provision of specialised skill, resources, etc.

Institutional Members may apply to the Council to become ASBCB Nodes, where a Node is defined as an institution with relevant infrastructure and expertise in bioinformatics or computational biology.

5.4    Associate Membership

Associate Members shall be scientists or institutions who are not located in Africa, but are committed to the goals and objectives of the Society, and who wish to participate in and contribute to the development of its programs and initiatives.

6 Governance

6.1    The Society shall be governed by the Governing Council that shall be constituted as provided for in the By-Laws.

6.2    The Council shall be elected by secret vote as set out in the By-Laws.

6.3    The Council shall elect from among its members a President and other office-bearers as provided for in the By-Laws.

7 Indemnity

7.1    Subject to the provisions of any relevant statute, every member of the Council or appointed servant of the Society shall be indemnified by the Society in respect of all approved acts done by him on its behalf (subject to section 7.2), and it shall be the duty the Society to pay all costs, losses and expenses which any such officer or servant may have incurred or become liable for by reason of any contract entered into, or act or deed done by him in his capacity as an officer or servant or in the discharge of his duties.

7.2    Subject to the provisions of any relevant statute, no member of the Council or other officer of the Society shall be liable for the acts, receipts, neglects or defaults of any other officer, or for joining in any receipt or other act for conformity or for any loss or expense suffered by the Society through the insufficiency or deficiency of title to any property acquired by order of the Council for or on behalf of the Society; or for the insufficiency or deficiency of any security in or upon which any of the monies of the Society shall be invested; or for any loss or damage arising from the bankruptcy, insolvency or tortuous act of any person with whom any monies, securities or effects shall be deposited or for any loss, damage or misfortune whatever which shall happen in the execution of the duties of his office or in relation thereto unless the same happen through his own dishonesty. 

8 Amendments

This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of all voting Members, provided notice of such a proposed amendment together with its full text shall have been mailed to all members at least four weeks in advance of the ballot. Voting may be carried out by electronic means or so designated according to procedures instituted by the Governing Council.

9 Dissolution

The Society may be dissolved by a three-fourths majority of all voting Members, if it is determined that the purposes of the Society have been achieved to a satisfactory degree or if it is determined that the Society will no longer be able to function effectively. In the case of dissolution, any assets situated in participating countries shall revert to their legal owner(s) or distributed to institutions in the participating countries having purposes similar to those of the Society after agreement between the governing authorities of those countries and the Governing Council.

BY-LAWS

B 1 Membership

B 1.1   Membership may be sought by making written application to the Honorary Secretary, and paying the prescribed annual membership fee.

B 1.2   The annual subscription fee shall for ordinary members and for student members will be as in the table below:

 Membership dues can be paid regionally - please contact a regional board member to arrange payment: 
     Southern Africa: Nicola Mulder (Nicola.Mulder@uct.ac.za) 
     Nothern Africa: Alia Benkahla (Alia.Benkahla@pasteur.rns.tn) 
     Eastern Africa: Dan Masiga (dmasiga@icipe.org) 
     Western Africa: Ezekiel Adebiyi (eadebiyi@sdsc.edu) 

 This subscription shall be subject to revision by the Council from time to time and may be waived by the Council in special cases.

B 1.3   A member whose subscription is one year in arrears shall cease to be a member, but the Council shall have the right to waive this rule in special cases.

B 2 Governance

B 2.1   The Council shall consist of six (6) persons elected for a period not exceeding three terms from among members of the Society; a term being defined as two (2) years. 

B 2.2   Candidates for election to the Council must be nominated and seconded by members in writing and must signify their willingness to stand.

B 2.3   The Council shall, at the beginning of each term elect from within its members, the following office-bearers:

(a) a President

(b) a Vice-President

(c) an Honorary Secretary

(d) an Honorary Treasurer

B 2.4   The Council shall have the right to co-opt additional members to serve until the next election.

B 2.5   The President may hold consecutive office for a period not exceeding than two terms.

B 2.6   The Council may establish such other subsidiary or ad hoc Committees, as it deems necessary for the performance of its functions.  It is anticipated that at least the following committees will be constituted:

·              Research Committee

·              Training Committee

B 2.7   Council Members shall serve in their personal capacity and are not considered, nor do they act, as official representatives of their respective countries or any organization.

B 2.8   The Council shall meet at least once every six (6) months.

B 2.9. The Council shall adopt its own rules of procedure.

B 2.10 Notice of Meeting

The Secretary shall give notice and the time of and place of each Council meeting to each Council member in person, or by mail (including electronic mail), telefax, or telephone, at least fifteen (15) days prior to such meeting. Unless otherwise indicated in such notice, any and all matters pertaining to the Society’s purpose may be considered and acted upon at such meeting.

B 2.11 Quorum

The numerical majority of the active Council members shall constitute a quorum for the consideration of any matters pertaining to the Society’s purposes. If at any meeting of the Council there is less than a quorum present, a simple numerical majority of those present may adjourn the meeting. The act of a majority of the Council members present at a meeting shall be the act of the Council, unless the act of a greater number is required by law, articles or bylaws.

B 2.12 Resignation

Any Council Member may resign at any time. Such resignation shall be made in writing and shall take effect thirty (30) days after receipt thereof by the President or Secretary.

As adopted at a meeting of foundation members held in
Cape Town on 13 February, 2004

Members of the Governing Board (2011-2012):