IBMS 50 year medals awarded

The IBMS is pleased to present the prestigious 50 year medals to Dr Val Bevan CSci FIBMS and Prof. Mike Wren MBE FIBMS for their outstanding contributions to the Institute.

Dr Valerie Bevan joined the IBMS in 1967 as an Associate and later became a Fellow of the IBMS and a Chartered Scientist in 2005. She chaired the working group that developed UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations for Clinical Bacteriology and is Chair of the British Society for Microbial Technology. Today she is an honorary teaching fellow at Lancaster University Management School. She has written articles on gender discrimination and sexism in laboratories, careers in biomedical science, and contributed to a parliament report on gender perceptions in STEM careers. Her book 'Positioning Women in Science: Knowing her Place' is to be published later this year.

Professor Mike Wren joined the IBMS in 1967. Mike dedicated his career to microbial research and developed diagnostic tests, published papers and worked on increasing specialist knowledge of anaerobic bacteria. A specialist in medical microbiology, Mike was awarded MBE status in 2007 for his services to biomedical science.  He was appointed a visiting professor to the University of Westminster and since retirement has followed his passion in medical history. In 2015, he was appointed as the Institute’s Honorary Librarian and became a member of the IBMS history committee, as well as a member of the Medical Sciences Historical Society. 

IBMS President Ian Sturdgess CSCi FIBMS commented, “it was a great pleasure and honour to be able to present Val and Mike with their 50 year medals to mark their excellent contributions and dedication not only to the Institute but to the field of Biomedical Science.”

The IBMS congratulates Dr Bevan and Professor Wren on their awards and wishes them the very best in the next stage of their careers.