The PSE today

The Phytochemical Society of Europe exists to serve all those with an interest in the chemistry and biochemistry of plants and in the applications of such knowledge in industry and agriculture.

The Society organises at least three meetings a year in the United Kingdom and Continental Europe.

The Society originated as the Plant Phenolics Group which was inaugurated in Cambridge, U.K. in 1957 as an informal group of chemists and biologists interested in the phenolic constituents of plants. As the interest of members widened, many wished to include their own fields within the activities of the group and it was resolved at the 7th Annual General Meeting of the Plant Phenolics Group at Leeds in 1964 to become the Phytochemical Group. As a result continued expansion of the membership the Group became the Phytochemical Society at the Annual General Meeting at Imperial College, London on the 11th April 1967. In recognition of the growing membership of Continental Europe the Society adopted its present name at an Extraordinary General Meeting in London on 6th January 1977 and as such held its first regular meeting in Continental Europe in Ghent in September of that year.

The business of the Society is conducted by the Officers and Committee Members who meet at least twice a year. All Society Members may submit suggestions at any time for symposium topics or for extending the activities of the Society. The academic programme and domestic arrangements for the individual symposia are the responsibility of local organisers who undertake this task at the invitation of the committee. Details of each meeting and an application form are sent to members approximately three months in advance. Members pay a much smaller registration fee than non members at these conferences, the saving usually amounting to considerably more than the membership fee.