You've probably seen the acronym on a conference badge or the spine of a journal. SSE. Three letters that show up in email signatures, grant acknowledgments, and the bios of people who argue about speciation mechanisms over beer at 11 p.m.
But what is it, really? And why does a society founded in 1946 still feel like the center of gravity for evolutionary biology?
Let's talk about it.
What Is the Society for the Study of Evolution
Let's talk about the Society for the Study of Evolution — SSE to everyone who's ever renewed a membership — is the primary professional organization for evolutionary biologists in North America. It's not a club. This leads to it's not a fan group. It's the institutional backbone of the field.
Founded in 1946, it emerged from the modern synthesis era when genetics, paleontology, and systematics were finally speaking the same language. The founders — names like Dobzhansky, Mayr, Simpson — wanted a dedicated space for evolution as its own discipline, not just a subsection of genetics or zoology meetings.
Today it's international in practice. So members span 60+ countries. The journal Evolution (which the society owns) and Evolution Letters are flagship publications. The annual meeting draws 1,500–2,000 people most years. That's a lot of poster sessions.
It's not just academics
Here's what gets missed: SSE isn't only for tenure-track professors. Now, graduate students make up a huge chunk of membership. So do postdocs, government researchers, NGO scientists, and a surprising number of people in biotech and pharma who use evolutionary frameworks daily. The society has worked hard — sometimes clumsily, sometimes effectively — to broaden who "counts" as an evolutionary biologist.
Real talk — this step gets skipped all the time.
Why It Matters
You could do evolutionary biology without ever joining SSE. People do. But you'd miss the infrastructure that makes the field function.
The meeting is where the field talks to itself
The annual Evolution meeting (often joint with ASN and SSB — the "Evolution meetings") is where ideas get stress-tested in real time. Still, you watch a senior researcher get gently roasted during Q&A for ignoring a 2018 paper. Also, you see the talk that contradicts the paper you just reviewed. So you catch the hallway conversation that becomes a collaboration. It's peer review with beer.
This changes depending on context. Keep that in mind.
Virtual attendance helped during the pandemic. But the energy? Not the same. Still, the society knows this. They're still figuring out the hybrid model.
Evolution the journal sets the bar
The society's flagship journal isn't just a publication venue. Profits go back into travel awards, diversity initiatives, student programs. The society owns it. Also, it's a signal. Because of that, publishing in Evolution means something — fair or not — about where your work sits in the field's conversation. That's why that matters. Not a publisher's bottom line Practical, not theoretical..
Advocacy that actually happens
When evolution education gets attacked in state legislatures, SSE writes letters. When federal funding for basic science gets cut, they organize sign-on statements. Also, they're not a lobbying juggernaut. But they're a credible voice. That counts.
How It Works
Membership — the basics
You join online. Dues scale by career stage: student, early career, regular, emeritus. Institutional memberships exist but are rare. There's a developing nations rate. You get journal access (both Evolution and Evolution Letters), meeting discounts, voting rights, and the warm feeling of supporting the field.
Easier said than done, but still worth knowing Worth keeping that in mind..
Is it worth it? Also, if you're a student presenting at the meeting, the discount alone pays for membership. If you're not traveling, it's basically a journal subscription with a newsletter attached The details matter here..
Governance — volunteers all the way down
The society runs on an elected council: president, president-elect, past president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and councilors. Terms are staggered. That said, everyone has a day job. The executive director (a paid staff position) handles operations, but strategy comes from the council.
Committees do the real work: meetings, publications, awards, diversity, education, international affairs. Most members never see this machinery. It works because people say yes when asked.
The meeting machine
Planning starts three years out. Venue contracts, program committees, abstract systems, travel award reviews, childcare grants, code of conduct enforcement — it's a small conference management operation run largely by volunteers who've never managed a conference before Simple, but easy to overlook. Less friction, more output..
They pull it off. Mostly. But the 2021 hybrid was better. 2022 in Cleveland felt almost normal. The 2020 virtual pivot was a mess in ways everyone understands. The society learns in public Easy to understand, harder to ignore..
Awards — more than résumé lines
The Dobzhansky Prize. The Sewall Wright Award. In real terms, the MacArthur & Wilson Award. The society raises funds specifically for student travel awards — hundreds of them each year. They shape careers. That's money that gets a first-gen college student from a teaching-focused university to their first Evolution meeting. That said, these aren't just CV ornaments. That changes things.
Common Mistakes / What Most People Get Wrong
"It's just for Americans"
The name says "Society for the Study of Evolution" — no country modifier. But the leadership, the meeting locations, the editorial boards have historically skewed heavily U.S./Canada. Still, the society knows this. The International Committee exists to fix it. Progress is real but slow. And if you're outside North America, you'll notice the gaps. But you'll also find people trying to close them.
"It's only for traditional evolutionary biology"
Phylogenomics? Yes. Experimental evolution? And yes. Evolutionary medicine? Increasingly. So cultural evolution? Here's the thing — there's a working group. Evolutionary psychology? Complicated — some members love it, some think it's not biology. The society's tent has expanded. But the center of gravity still pulls toward population genetics and speciation. In practice, that's changing. Not fast enough for everyone Easy to understand, harder to ignore..
"The meeting is cliquey"
It can feel that way. The same labs presenting every year. In real terms, it helps. But if you're shy, it's still a lot. But the society has worked hard on this: newcomer receptions, mentorship programs, explicit networking events for first-timers. In real terms, pro tip: volunteer at the registration desk. The same faces at the same bars. You meet everyone Small thing, real impact..
"Membership is expensive"
Relative to what? Practically speaking, the math works if you attend once every few years. A single conference registration for a non-member costs more than a year of student dues. If you never go, it's a journal subscription. Decide accordingly Worth keeping that in mind..
Practical Tips / What Actually Works
Join before you submit
If you're targeting Evolution or Evolution Letters, join first. And you're supporting the journal you want to publish in. Now, it's not huge, but it adds up. Feels circular? That said, it is. Members get reduced publication charges. That's how society publishing works That alone is useful..
Apply for travel awards early
Deadlines are strict. The system opens months before the meeting. Don't wait for your abstract acceptance — apply when the portal opens. You can withdraw if your abstract gets rejected. Money runs out.
Volunteer for a committee
Seriously. Grad students serve on the Student Affairs Committee. Still, you don't need to be senior. The society needs people who understand the field and have opinions about how it should run. Early career folks on the Diversity Committee. It's how you learn the machinery — and how you change it.
Read the newsletter
*The Evolutionary Bulletin
s does more than just inform you about upcoming meetings and job postings—it’s a curated feed of the field’s pulse. Skim it regularly. You’ll spot emerging trends, heated debates, and funding opportunities before they hit the mainstream Nothing fancy..
Final Thoughts: The Society as a Living Organism
The Society for the Study of Evolution isn’t a static institution; it’s a community in constant flux. Its strength lies in its ability to adapt—whether by addressing historical biases, embracing interdisciplinary work, or fostering inclusivity. But like any organism, it requires active participation. Complaining about cliques or costs won’t fix them; volunteering, mentoring, and advocating for change will But it adds up..
Critically, the society’s future depends on who chooses to engage. If you’re early in your career, your voice matters now—not just when you’re tenured or funded. If you’re outside the traditional evolutionary biology wheelhouse, your perspective could be the catalyst for the next big shift. The society’s greatest asset isn’t its archives or its annual meeting; it’s the people who make it vibrant, contentious, and alive.
So, join the conversation. Submit that abstract. Run for office. And remember: evolution isn’t just about genes and fossils. It’s about how we, as a community, evolve together.
