Treasurer’s Report for Financial Year (FY) 2016

This report covers the period of June 1, 2016–May 31, 2017. The society remains in outstanding financial health, with a net benefit of $268,721.17. The continuing success of our two journals, Molecular Biology and Evolution and Genome Biology and Evolution, allowed us to collect $936,362.96 of revenue. The society used its income to publish its two journals, Molecular Biology and Evolution and Genome Biology and Evolution, and to support its annual meeting, which was held in Gold Coast (Australia) in 2016. This included providing graduate and postdoctoral travel awards, which from this year on also includes registration-awards for about 100 additional young scientists, funding the Walter Fitch Prize Symposium (a cash prize for the winner and travel funds for all eight contestants), running the Undergraduate Diversity Mentoring Program, supporting the travel and accommodation of Council members, and providing travel incentives for Associate Editors of both journals. In addition, SMBE provides unbureaucratic and flexible childcare awards to support the families of those attending the meeting and we are proud to announce that, for the second consecutive year, we were able to fund 100% of the applications. SMBE further supports and acknowledges the scientific and community achievement of its members with a panel of Prizes for scientists at all career stages. This year, the society has invested almost $2,000,000 in 5-year-term credit deposit to guarantee the quality of its meetings and generate additional revenue that will be available from 2021 onwards to support additional actions of the society.