Our History

For over 50 years, from its beginnings as a small federation in the 1970s to today’s pan-European network spanning 50+ Member Societies across 40 countries, FEMS has brought microbiologists together. 

The spark 

In 1974, microbiologists from across the Iron Curtain in Europe met in Amsterdam for the first FEMS Council meeting, marking the official launch of the Federation. The idea had taken shape the previous year, when scientists gathered to explore how national societies could work more closely together. Guided by a shared vision of collaboration and community, they laid the groundwork for what would become FEMS, with Nobel laureate André Lwoff appointed as its first President. 

For further insights into these beginnings, explore “The Federation of European Microbiological Societies: An Historical Review” by Edwin A. Dawes (FEMS Microbiology Letters, 1992).

Laying the foundations 

In the early years, FEMS built the structures that still define it today. Annual Council meetings brought together representatives from across Europe, and in 1975 the Federation secured charitable status in the UK, creating the financial stability needed to support collaboration. Soon after, the first symposia created new spaces for scientific exchange, and by the end of the decade FEMS had become the central hub for microbiology in Europe, taking over from the earlier North-West European Microbiology Group.  

This foundation was strengthened through partnerships with leading journals, which paved the way for the launch of FEMS Microbiology Letters in 1977, a rapid-publication journal that quickly became the community’s home for sharing discoveries. 

Growing together 

The 1980s and 1990s saw FEMS mature into a stable and trusted presence for microbiologists across Europe. New journals strengthened its scientific voice, with FEMS Microbiology Ecology and FEMS Microbiology Reviews joining the portfolio in 1985). 

This period was also marked by innovation in training, with FEMS sponsoring the first advanced workshop in microbial ecology in Europe in 1982, creating new hands-on opportunities for early career researchers. Meetings and workshops multiplied across the decade, supported by growing financial stability, while grants and fellowships helped young scientists fully participate in the expanding network. This strengthened the Federation and set the stage for the larger initiatives and wider outreach that would define the 2000s. 

Expanding horizons 

The launch of FEMS Yeast Research in 2001 added a new voice to the publications portfolio, while the first FEMS Congress in 2003 brought thousands of microbiologists together under one roof for the first time in Slovenia. At the Congress, FEMS and its Member Societies signed the European Declaration for Microbiology, a statement of purpose that still resonates today. 

In 2009, the European Academy of Microbiology (EAM) was established, providing a forum for leading microbiologists recognised for excellence and scientific eminence to meet, share research, and explore the future direction of microbiology across Europe. 

Shaping the future 

FEMS continued to grow and adapt to the changing world of science, particularly during the global COVID-19 pandemic, which accelerated new ways of connecting microbiologists and supporting their work. The FEMS Summer School for Postdocs, started in 2019, created opportunities for collaboration and hands-on training for early-career researchers.  

From 2020 onwards, FEMS has led the organisation of International Microorganism Day, helping it expand into a global celebration of microbes and their impact in over 60 countries. That same year saw a shift towards digital engagement, with the launch of the FEMS Webinar series and the introduction of the FEMSmicroBlog, bringing research, discussion, and community directly to scientists worldwide..  

FEMS also strengthened its commitment to open science with the launch of microLife and FEMS Microbes as its first open-access journals, providing new publishing routes for microbiologists. The Microbes & Us podcast, first released in 2021, further fostered collaboration and dialogue across the microbiology community. Building on this momentum, all but one of the FEMS Journals transitioned to be fully open access (OA) in 2024, with FEMS Microbiology Letters, offering free-to-publish and OA options. 

50 years and beyond

In 2024, FEMS celebrated its 50th anniversary, a chance to look back at five decades of progress and to set a vision for the future. The following year, FEMS hosted FEMS MICRO Milan 2025, its largest event to date, showcasing the breadth of European microbiology and bringing thousands of scientists together for cutting-edge science, discussions, and networking.

Today, we remain committed to the same principles that inspired our founders: advancing microbiology through collaboration, connection, and community. The next chapter of FEMS is just beginning.