Society for Cryobiology

The Society for Cryobiology is an international society that was founded in 1964 to bring together those from the biological, medical and physical sciences who have a common interest in the effect of low temperatures on biological systems. The purpose of the Society is to promote scientific research in low temperature biology, to improve scientific understanding in this field, and to disseminate and apply this knowledge to the benefit of mankind.

The Society's headquarters are located in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. The Society publishes a journal called Cryobiology.

Opinion on cryonics
On 15 September, 1982, the Society’s new bylaws took effect, denying membership and allowing expulsion of any existing member who engages in or promotes "any practice or application of freezing deceased persons in anticipation of their reanimation". The Society rescinded this position on December 31, 2017, allowing cryonicists to join again.

In about 1982 the Society published a policy statement that states: The Society recognizes and respects the well established freedom of individuals to hold and express their own opinions and to act, within lawful limits, according to their beliefs. Preferences regarding disposition of the dead are clearly a matter of personal choice and, therefore, inappropriate subjects of Society policy.

The Society does, however, take the position that cadaver freezing is not science. The knowledge necessary for the revival of whole mammals following freezing and for bringing the dead to life does not currently exist and can come only from conscientious and patient research in cryobiology, biology, chemistry, and medicine. The act of freezing a dead body and storing it indefinitely on the chance that some future generation may restore it to life is an act of faith, not science.

In their November 2018 position statement the Society states: "The Society recognizes and respects the freedom of individuals to hold and express their own opinions and to act, within lawful limits, according to their beliefs. Preferences regarding disposition of postmortem human bodies or brains are clearly a matter of personal choice and, therefore, inappropriate subjects of Society policy. The Society does, however, take the position that the knowledge necessary for the revival of live or dead whole mammals following cryopreservation does not currently exist and can come only from conscientious and patient research in cryobiology and medicine. In short, the act of preserving a body, head or brain after clinical death and storing it indefinitely on the chance that some future generation may restore it to life is an act of speculation or hope, not science, and as such is outside the purview of the Society for Cryobiology."