The Society of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines (SPP) was formed in June 2000 at the conclusion of the First International Conference on Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines (ICPP-1) held in Dijon, France. This was the first worldwide meeting devoted only to research in the fields of porphyrins and phthalocyanines and was attended by almost 600 scientists from more than 40 different countries. The Journal of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines (JPP) had been publishing manuscripts on both porphyrin and phthalocyanine topics since 1997 but there was still very little scientific interaction among the JPP authors or members of the Editorial Board who considered themselves either “porphyrin scientists” or “phthalocyanine researchers” and had devoted their careers to research in one of the two fields but not both. Thus, formation of our new society in June 2000 was intended to break down barriers between the two fields of research (and researchers) and further all types of scientific interactions between these two disciplines which at that time were linked by a similar looking macrocycle and a journal but not much more.

The broad goal of SPP has always been to serve the interests of scientists working in any area of porphyrins, phthalocyanines and related macrocycles, independent of their scientific discipline, be it chemistry, physics, biology, biochemistry or material science. This was done in part by providing the infrastructure and substantial financial support for future ICPP meetings which were so far held in Kyoto (2002), New Orleans (2004), Rome (2006), Moscow (2008) and New Mexico (2010). SPP not only assisted the local organizers with all aspects of the ICPP meeting organization but also solicited funding for the awarding of 3-5 Lifetime Achievement Awards every two years to highly distinguished senior investigators, 3 JPP/SPP Young Investigator Awards to scientists under the age of 40 and numerous grants for students who wished to attend the meeting. SPP also purchased the Journal of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines (JPP) from John Wiley & Sons at the end of 2001 and for the next seven years handled all aspects of its publication out of the Dijon office. Thus, SPP, ICPP and JPP were firmly intertwined from 2001-2008.

In mid-2008, JPP was sold to World Scientific Publishing Company (WSPC) who will handle all publishing and subscription aspects of our society journal. However, the strong interrelationships between SPP, ICPP and JPP will continue since JPP remains the official journal of the Society of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines whose membership is responsible for maintaining the direction and scientific content of our society-run journal. This transition from SPP publication to WSPC publication of JPP will enable the Society of Porphyrins & Phthalocyanines to devote additional time to its membership and to the furthering of its initial goal – to providing a forum where scientists carrying out work in any field research involving porphyrins, phthalocyanines or related macrocycles can interact to the maximum extent possible.

- sponsoring the International Conference on Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines (ICPP)
- provide a forum for interaction between porphyrin and phthalocyanine researchers around the world
- help to negotiate discounted rates on meetings and books of interest to the membership
- provide a limited number of grants to attend meetings such as ICPP
- raise or provide funds to support the Outstanding Young Investigator Awards given at ICPP
- provide administrative help to SPP National Representatives or their designates wishing to organize meetings or other related P and Pc activities in their home country.

- discounted registration fee for SPP member participation at ICPP meetings
- awarding of several SPP grants to student participants at ICPP meetings.
- discounted personal subscription rate to JPP (the official SPP journal).
- discounted member only purchase price of the Porphyrin

		Deluxe* SPP/JPP membership (one year)		US$246.00
		Full SPP membership (2012)		US$70.00
		Full SPP membership (2011)		US$65.00
		Full SPP membership 2-year** (2011-2012)		US$125.00
		Student SPP membership (2011 or 2012)		US$40.00
		Student SPP membership 2-year** (2011-2012)		US$80.00

Suggestions for representatives from countries not listed above are welcome and should be addressed to Professor Karl M. Kadish or the SPP Office in Dijon.