The foundation for today's microbiology was laid in the latter half of the 19th century, when pioneers such as Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch established the role of microorganisms in disease and put the science of microbiology on a sound experimental basis. The origins of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) can be traced to the same period. Three members of the American Society of Naturalists conceived the Society of American Bacteriologists (SAB) when a colleague said they looked like "lost souls" among the naturalists and suggested they form their own society. The first meeting of the new society was held at Yale University in 1899, attracting 59 attendees to hear 26 presentations. The SAB was renamed the ASM in 1960 to reflect the enlarged scope of the discipline. At the centennial meeting of the ASM in Chicago in 1999, the attendees numbered 13,500; there were more than 125 symposia and colloquia and nearly 3,500 poster presentations, records for the ASM.

The founding members' career interests focused on using bacteriology to promote public health, as well as establishing bacteriology as a science in its own right. The first meeting had papers on bacterial systematics, laboratory technology, and the teaching of bacteriology, as well as on the diagnosis and treatment of disease, and food and water safety. The purpose of the ASM has changed significantly in the intervening years, and the mission statement of the society now reads "to advance the microbiological sciences worldwide as a vehicle for understanding basic life processes and to promote the application and sustainability of the knowledge gained for improved health and economic and environmental well-being."

The society has been actively pursuing these objectives in a variety of ways in the past century and, with more than 42,000 members around the world, is considered a leading global force in promoting microbiology and related sciences. The name itself does not truly reflect the international activities of the society, which have increased dramatically under the direction of an energetic international committee. Almost 30 percent of the current membership resides outside the United States: microorganisms know no borders, nor does the ASM.

One of the principal ways in which the ASM promotes the science is through an extensive publications program. The ASM has an enviable portfolio of 10 peer-reviewed journals, which embody the highest quality in research publications and cover fields including virology, environmental and clinical microbiology, and infectious disease therapy. The oldest among these, Journal of Bacteriology, has been preeminent since its establishment in 1916. ASM Press also publishes a wide range of textbooks and monographs. In the 1920s, the society published a loose-leaf Manual of Methods, followed by the first edition of Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology. Many titles, such as the Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook, have become widely respected standards in the field. ASM Press has just published its first book for general audiences, Intimate Strangers: Unseen Life on Earth, a companion book to the Public Broadcasting series of the same name, which was aired in the autumn of 1999, and was sponsored by the society.

The ASM has also kept pace with rapidly developing communication technologies. The Web site of the American Society for Microbiology provides continuously updated information on microbiological topics and activities, including the opportunity to register for meetings, submit abstracts, buy books online, and access the ASM journals. Two other Web sites produced by the society for the public, MicrobeWorld and Stalking the Mysterious Microbe, have been recognized with several awards and are active information resources for schoolchildren and other members of the public.

The ASM also ensures that its science serves the public interest through its Public and Scientific Affairs Board (PSAB). The PSAB plays a significant role in monitoring and shaping science and public health policy decisions by the U.S. government and is frequently asked to advise legislators and other decision-making officials on the policy implications of microbiological issues. For example, at the beginning of the recombinant DNA debate in the 1970s, the PSAB provided expert advice on issues that were perceived to arise from the new technology. The Board participated vigorously and constructively in the process to develop rational, science-based oversight of the new technology, which is critical to the scientific community and to the public interest. Continuing issues addressed by the PSAB include, among others: government funding and other policies related to life sciences research, biological warfare and bioterrorism, antibiotic resistance, food safety, microbial diversity, laboratory practices, research integrity, and culture collections.

General or annual meetings of the society have been held every year since 1899, with the exception of two years during World War II. The first Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy was sponsored in 1961. The growing number of ASM-sponsored conferences, smaller and more specialized than the larger meetings, attests to the success of the ASM Meetings Board in presenting forums for the latest research on cutting-edge topics. Workshops and audio conferences are also offered to meet the continuing education needs of microbiologists. At the larger meetings, the ASM Membership Board operates an on-site placement service for potential employees and employers in all fields of microbiology. This board is also responsible for member benefits and recognition programs, and liaison with ASM branches and student members.

Through the Board of Education and Training, the society develops and implements programs designed to improve the quality of life sciences education at all levels. These include career information, educational fellowships, undergraduate faculty enhancement programs, curriculum guidelines, multimedia resources, and reviews. The ASM also maintains proactive programs to ensure the recognition and participation of underrepresented groups in the discipline and fosters relations with a variety of organizations with similar goals, such as the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science.

Another component of the ASM, the American Academy of Microbiology, administers ASM's scientific awards program, sponsors professional recognition programs and convenes colloquia on critical issues in microbiology.

What is the role of the ASM in the new millennium? Clearly, microbiology - the study of the oldest and most critical living organisms in the biosphere and the foundation of so much research in biological science - will continue to be essential. Microbiology forms the foundation for our work in dealing with challenges such as emerging bacterial and viral pathogens and the development of antibiotic resistance, as well as in applying evolutionary concepts towards the understanding of the biology of other life forms.

The ASM has been an effective voice for the life sciences in numerous ways during the past century, and these activities remain critical components of its plans for the future. To deal rationally with current concerns about matters such as food and water safety and the increasing use of recombinant organisms in the production of foodstuffs, the ASM must always be available to provide reliable and unbiased information. One of the major challenges the society faces is fostering public understanding of, and confidence in, the life sciences. As a society, we strongly believe that the ASM must be a leader in broadening understanding of the benefits of new technologies made possible by microorganisms and in providing a balanced assessment of their risks, based on principles of good science, not irresponsible sensation seeking.