ASM Joins UN Sustainable Development Goals Publishers Compact
Washington, D.C.—March 15, 2024—°®¶¹´«Ã½ (ASM) is proud to sign on to the °®¶¹´«Ã½ Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Publishers Compact and join the growing who have committed to championing global sustainability. Signatories aspire to accelerate sustainable solutions to the world’s biggest challenges, publishing books and journals that will help inform, develop and encourage progress toward the SDGs.
The is designed to inspire action among publishers. Launched in collaboration with the International Publishers Association, the compact aims to accelerate progress to achieve the SDGs by 2030. In 2015, the UN identified 17 interconnecting , to serve as a "blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all" by 2030.
“The UN SDGs mirror many of ASM’s policy principles, journal scopes and organizational aspirations, and we are proud to be furthering our commitment to a sustainable future for all by signing the SDG Publishers Compact,” said Melissa Junior, ASM’s Executive Publisher.
Many of the SDGs, from “Good Health and Wellbeing” to “Life Below Water,” are comprehensively covered in ASM’s journals and publications. ASM’s , highlighting the myriad ways that microbial systems can enhance our understanding and help us make progress toward the SDGs.
“Climate Action” has also been a focal point of ASM’s publications and organizational efforts. From the (JMBE)’s “Teaching Climate Change Series,” which provides educators with tools for engaging students with climate science, to the forthcoming series on “One Health, Microbes and Climate Change,” ASM Journals is publishing more research at the intersection of microbes and climate science. Additionally, climate science is being prioritized through initiatives like the American Academy of °®¶¹´«Ã½’s 5-year Climate Change and Microbes Scientific Portfolio.
In line with the “Reducing Inequalities” and “Gender Equality” SDGs, ASM journals have also significantly contributed to the discourse around diversity, equity and inclusion. For example, the ongoing “” series published in mSystems addresses the interrelationship of the microbial world, social systems and policy, and health outcomes. ASM is committed to embodying and elevating inclusive diversity with equity, access and accountability (IDEAA), which builds upon the Society’s overarching goals of enhancing the health, environmental sustainability and economic prosperity of people worldwide.
As stated by ASM CEO Stefano Bertuzzi when addressing the 2021 °®¶¹´«Ã½ Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Science Summit, “Understanding the world of microbes is absolutely imperative either to curb dangerous effects or to harness [microbes] power for healthier life, for sustainable energy sources, for biodiversity, for tackling climate change [and] for solving hunger problems.”
ASM recognizes the interconnectivity of the SDGs in the effort toward global prosperity and sustainability. The microbial sciences play a clear role in many of the issues facing our planet, and ASM is committed to sharing knowledge about the role of microbiology in sustainable development through ASM’s scientific journals and publications.
###
°®¶¹´«Ã½ is one of the largest professional societies dedicated to the life sciences and is composed of 36,000 scientists and health practitioners. ASM's mission is to promote and advance the microbial sciences.
ASM advances the microbial sciences through conferences, publications, certifications, educational opportunities and advocacy efforts. It enhances laboratory capacity around the globe through training and resources. It provides a network for scientists in academia, industry and clinical settings. Additionally, ASM promotes a deeper understanding of the microbial sciences to diverse audiences.
