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The Micropalaeontological Society ("TMS" for short) is a charitable organisation based in the UK and founded in 1970 for the promotion of the study of micropalaeontology (the study of microscopic fossils)

The Society exists "to advance the education of the public in the study of Micropalaeontology" and is operated exclusively for scientific and educational purposes, and not for profit. It is a UK registered charity, number 284013. The Society publishes the Journal of Micropalaeontology and a series of Special Publications. . The Society has a dedicated website

The Society comprises six specialist groups, namely Foraminifera, Microvertebrates, Calcareous Nannofossils, Ostracods, Palynology and Silicofossils. The groups hold separate meetings, including field trips, throughout the year; these are becoming progressively more international in their scope. For example, the 2014 TMS joint Foraminifera and Nannofossil Spring Meeting will take place in Texel, The Netherlands. The Society holds an annual conference (the Annual General Meeting) during November each year. The most recent conferences have been held at the British Geological Survey (2012), The Natural History Museum, London (2013), and the 2014 meeting will be held at the Oxford University Museum for Natural History.

A brief history of The Micropalaeontological Society
The Micropalaeontological Society was founded in 1970 as the British Micropalaeontological Group (BMG) with the stated aim of furthering the study of micropalaeontology. The founding father of the BMG was Professor Leslie Rowsell Moore (1912–2003) of the University of Sheffield. The principal aims of the BMG were to host scientific meetings and to organise multidisciplinary micropalaeontological research on British type sections from all systems, and publish the results. The inaugural committee and technical meetings of the BMG were held in Sheffield in 1971. The Group was organised by a main committee and five specialist groups. The latter were the conodont, foraminifera, ostracods, pollen, spores, and non-calcareous microplankton (i.e. palynology), and other special micropalaeontological interests.

In 1975, the BMG became the British Micropalaeontological Society (BMS) and in 2001 the Society changed its name to The Micropalaeontological Society (TMS), to reflect the increasing international profile and membership. There are now six specialist groups, namely Calcareous Nannofossil, Foraminifera, Microvertebrate, Ostracod, Palynology and Silicofossil. Members of TMS may elect to be part of one or more of these groups. Specialist Group and General meetings are held throughout the year and the Annual General Meeting is traditionally held each November.

Publications
The Society produces a Newsletter of Micropalaeontology twice a year. In 1982 the association initiated its serial journal, the Journal of Micropalaeontology. Between 1982 and 1983, one issue per year was produced; this was increased to two parts per annum in 1984. Prior to this the society published occasional publications such as stratigraphical atlases of individual microfossil groups and conference proceedings and the Stereo Atlas of Ostracod Shells (published 1973-1998). In 1993 the society changed the publication model from essentially self-publishing to using the Geological Society Publishing House (GSPH) for all matters associated with production and distribution. The GSPH now produces all the society Special Publications. To date, there have been 6 Micropalaeontology Special Publications:


 * TMS006 - Landmarks in Foraminiferal Micropalaeontology: History and Development. Edited by A.J. Bowden, F.J. Gregory and A.S. Henderson.


 * TMS005 - Bradley. Biological and Geological Perspectives of Dinoflagellates. Edited by F. Marret, J.M. Lewis & L.R. Bradley.


 * TMS004 - Micropalaeontology, Sedimentary Environments and Stratigraphy: A Tribute to Dennis Curry (1912-2001). Edited by J. E. Whittaker and M. B. Hart.


 * TMS003 - Ostracods in British Stratigraphy. Edited by J. E. Whittaker and M. B. Hart.


 * TMS002 - Deep-Time Perspectives on Climate Change: Marrying the Signal from Computer Models and Biological Proxies. Edited by M Williams, A M Haywood, J Gregory & D N Schmidt.


 * TMS001 - Recent Developments in Applied Biostratigraphy. Edited by A. J. Powell & J. B. Riding.

The Micropalaeontological Society Executive Committee
The Main Committee comprises a President, Secretary and Treasurer, who each have a three year term of office. The main committee also includes the editors of the Journal, Special Publications and Newsletter, as well as the Membership Secretary, Webmaster, Publicity Officer, Industrial Liaison Officer and Archivist. They are elected for a three year term of office and are eligible to stand for a second term. At each main committee meeting a representative of each specialist group (Calcareous Nannofossil, Foraminifera, Microvertebrate, Ostracod, Palynology and Silicofossil) must be present. Group Representative positions are normally held for two years.

TMS Presidents
J. F. Gregory  2013-present

M. P. Smith	2010-2013

M. K. Kucera	2007-2010

D. J. Siveter	2004-2007

H. W. Bailey	2001-2004

J. E. Whittaker	1998-2001

R. J. Aldridge	1995-1998

A. R. Lord	1992-1995

M. B. Hart	1989-1992

A. C. Higgins	1986-1989

B. M. Funnell	1984-1986

R. H. Bate	1982-1984

B. Owens	1980-1982

J. W. Murray	1978-1980

J. W. Neale	1976-1978

R. H. Cummings	1974-1976

P. C. Sylvester-Bradley	1972-1974

L. R. Moore	1970-1972

Awards
The Society offers a variety of Awards and Honours to the micropalaeontological community, including the Brady Medal, the Alan Higgins Award for Applied Micropaleontology, the Charles Downie Award, Honorary Memberships, Student Awards, Grants-in-Aid, TMS Educational Trust Awards. Further details of all these awards and honours can be found on the Society website

The Brady Medal
This is the highest award of The Micropalaeontological Society. It is named in honour of George Stewardson Brady (1832–1921) and Henry Bowman Brady (1835–1891) in recognition of their outstanding pioneering studies in micropalaeontology and natural history. The medal was commissioned and was awarded for the first time in 2007. The recipients of the Brady Medal are listed below:

2013: Dr. Graham L. Williams

2012: Prof. Richard J. Aldridge

2011: Prof. John A. Barron

2010: Prof. Christopher R. Barnes

2009: Prof. Thomas M. Cronin

2008: Prof. Katharina von Salis

2007: Prof. John W. Murray

Grants-in-Aid
Grants-in-Aid are awarded annually to help student members of the Society and early career researchers (i.e. within 10 years of obtaining their last degree) with fieldwork, conference attendance, or any other specific activity related to their research which has not been budgeted for. The applicant can claim up to £500 towards their research activity. The proposed activity must take place in the calendar year commencing the 1st April following the application deadline in February. More information, including application forms etc., can be found here