Professor Christine Raines becomes SEB President

Professor Christine Raines becomes SEB President

The SEB is delighted to welcome Professor Christine Raines (University of Essex, UK) as the new Honorary President of the Society of Experimental Biology after Professor Patrick Hussey’s (University of Durham, UK) two year term ended at the 2017 SEB Annual Meeting.

Professor Raines is the Head of the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Essex and has served the Society in roles within the Plant Section and Council over the last 15 years. She has held the position of Vice-President for the last two years and her appointment sees her become the SEB’s first female President.

“Women have played a significant role in our Sections and Council and therefore it seems only appropriate that we would have a female President,” said Professor Raines, who is also Editor-in-Chief of the Journal for Experimental Botany.

“I think it’s really important that we have all different types of role models to reflect the diversity of the Society, especially role models for women because we know they are underrepresented at more senior levels across the academic community.”

The former Plant Section Chair said she would work to continue the SEB’s tradition of providing opportunities for young scientists to present their research and network with their more experienced peers.

“Many established researchers remember SEB meetings as the first place where they were given the opportunity to present their science and spend time with senior people in the field.

“Something I feel strongly about is that there is not a separation between the professors, students and post-docs that are invited to give talks. I feel as if we are all one big community.”

Professor Raines, whose research focuses on photosynthesis and photosynthetic carbon fixation, its regulation and how it can be manipulated to improve yield, said she wanted to open up communication with members and interest groups.

“We continually need to strive to connect with our members and to hear their voice.

“I’d like to develop pathways to engage more with our interest groups and the different areas that we cover to hear what our members would like the Society to provide for them.”

Professor Christine Raines will serve a two year term as SEB President ending July 2019.

Read more about Professor Raines here.