Turkish Society of Microbiology / Türkiye

The project partnership consists of one local and two European partners. The coordinating organization is the Turkish Society of Microbiology, and the project partners are the University of Minho from Portugal and the University of Granada from Spain.

The Turkish Society of Microbiology: The Turkish Society of Microbiology (TMC) is one of Turkey's oldest and most established scientific associations. Founded on July 22, 1931, in Istanbul, it is a non-profit organization serving as the national society for microbiologists in Türkiye.

Its primary mission is to promote the development of microbiology in Türkiye, represent the interests of microbiologists, and facilitate communication and collaboration among microbiologists both within the country and internationally. The society supports professionals across a broad range of microbiology-related fields, including medical (clinical) microbiology, veterinary microbiology, agricultural and industrial microbiology, molecular microbiology, bacteriology, virology, mycology, parasitology, immunology, allergy, infectious diseases, food hygiene, food engineering, biotechnology, epidemiology, public health, and related disciplines.

Key activities and roles of TMC include:

Supporting and reporting on scientific studies and observations by professionals (such as those with or pursuing master's or doctoral degrees) in the aforementioned fields.
Establishing communication with similar scientific societies to disseminate and support scientific advancements.
Protecting the legal rights of its members when necessary.
Representing members in national and international organizations, as permitted by the Council of Ministers.
Conducting or commissioning studies on national issues related to its field and seeking solutions.
Expanding interest groups and fostering ongoing collaboration with other microbiology societies worldwide.

TMC organizes numerous scientific events annually, including symposia, workshops, training courses, and — every two years — the National Microbiology Congress (alternating with the congress organized by the Turkish Society of Clinical Microbiology Specialists, KLIMUD). The society has also hosted major international events, such as ESCMID-2001, IUMS-2008, and various FEMS-related activities.

Since 1971, TMC has published the Turkish Journal of Microbiology (Turk Mikrobiyol Cem Derg), a quarterly peer-reviewed journal (ISSN: 0258-2171; e-ISSN: 2458-7516). It features original research, reviews, and other contributions in microbiology and related areas.

The society has over 2,500 members from across Türkiye, representing diverse subfields such as medical, veterinary, food, environmental, oral, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, molecular microbiology, and biotechnology. A significant portion of the membership consists of young women scientists (with an average age around 38 ± 2 years). Recent data indicates a gender distribution of approximately 1,743 women and 933 men (though membership continues to grow).