Formal objects of the Annals of Botany Company

To promote the science of botany . . . [by means of] . . . the publication known as the Annals of Botany [and other publications], . . . to make grants for the prosecution of botanical research and botanical travel; and . . . to employ such other means as [are] . . . conducive to the promotion of botanical science.’

From the Memorandum of Association, 1903 (revised 1948 and amended in 1998 by resolution made under Section 75 of The Charities Act 1993 )

and less formally . . .

Nowadays we achieve our aims through our ownership and management of the journals  Annals of Botany, AoB PLANTS, in silico Plants, the web log BotanyOne  and the newsletterThe Week in Botany (specimen issue here, subscribe here). Thanks to our ‘not for profit’ constitution, we can increase the general benefit of these titles by supporting them financially from our investments and by giving grants-in-aid for a variety of related activites in plant science.

In the face of the currently overwhelming volume and diversity of work being produced in plant science, we are concerned to publish only the most significant and potentially useful botanical findings and opinions, from whatever sources these might emerge. Within a commitment to open and transparent decision-making, we support the principle and practice of rigorous external peer review and we demand the full traceability of all opinions advanced by our journals' contributors.

We also work to make our titles accessible to the widest possible international readership by minimizing or eliminating subscription barriers. We insist upon prompt and courteous service in our dealings with all potential contributors.

Equal opportunity

We recognize that these ambitions can only be met by listening to and by engaging with voices, experiences and perspectives drawn from all walks of life.

We wish to be fair to everybody and to ensure that no-one who serves at any level within our organization, or who uses any of our services, receives more or less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, sex/gender, transgender, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, disability, religious affiliation/belief, part-time working, pregnancy and maternity, political opinion, or trade union involvement. If we appear to fail in any of these respects, we expect, and will welcome, to be challenged.

Data protection

In order to participate in the Company’s activities, it is often necessary for individuals to supply the Company or its journals with personal data. It our policy always to handle these data in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation 2018. Where we request personal data, we ensure that individuals only provide them on a freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous basis. We uphold individuals’ rights subsequently to access these data, and to have the right to rectification, to erasure, to restriction of processing, to data portability (if applicable), and the right not to be subject to automated decision-making.

COVID-19

Because the entire activity of the Company is conducted electronically, whether in the form of inputs, processing or outputs, the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the Company is expected to be minimal so long as there remains plant science research to report.