Its objective is to advance for the benefit of the public the science of microbiology in its application to the environment, human and animal health, agriculture and industry.

[3] Applied Microbiology International holds a number of scientific meetings every year including its Early Career Scientist Research Symposium and two lecture evenings which celebrate the success of the journals Environmental Microbiology and the Journal of Applied Microbiology.

[4] Applied Microbiology International is based in the United Kingdom and has members from all over the world.

[6] This award was instituted in 1984 to commemorate the life and works of the late W H (Bill) Pierce, former Chief Bacteriologist of Oxo Ltd. and a long time member of the Society.

This prestigious prize is awarded each year to a young microbiologist who has made a substantial contribution to the science of applied microbiology.