Biophysical Society Bulletin | January 2018

AMessage from the President

Officers President Lukas Tamm President-Elect Angela Gronenborn Past-President Suzanne Scarlata Secretary Frances Separovic Treasurer Kalina Hristova Council

Supporting the Next Generation. The future strength of biophysics and of the Society depends on the next generation. It’s that simple. We know that we have strong programs and services for our young members, but we also know that technology, job markets, and economies change, and we are committed to change with them to ensure that the next gen- eration thrives. The Society will continuously improve the mechanisms to engage, support, and retain the next generation of biophysicists. Advocating for Biophysics. Who better to be ambassadors for biophysics than biophysi- cists? How many people know and understand what you as a biophysicist do? As biophysi- cists, we all need to step up and make our science more accessible, understandable, and re- latable to everyone’s lives. The Biophysical Society will develop programs to help members communicate the value and importance of biophysics to lawmakers, funding bodies, and the public at large. While scientific organizations have learned that working together to advocate for science funding works and is crucial, we are the only global organization that can speak specifically and comprehensively for biophysics. We will work to engage more members to participate in that effort. We Are aMember Organization To all of you who participated in the survey and interviews that led to this plan, a heartfelt thank you. As part of our effort to respond to member needs, we have sent a separate survey asking for input on specific programs, and we encourage all of you to participate and help make the Biophysical Society even better. One of the reasons for the Society’s growth and success is that it has always been a demo- cratic, bottoms-up organization. That feedback came through in the surveys and interviews. Nearly every successful program the Society currently sponsors originated from a member suggestion. Please help us continue that culture by participating and making your voice heard. As we develop programs that you ask for, tell us if and how they are meeting your needs or how they can be improved. We are excited to march together and promote biophysics as a unified, yet constantly evolv- ing field far into the future. We are also thrilled to accompany and support all scientists who identify as biophysicists – young and old and around the globe – throughout their careers for decades to come. Note from the Editor You will see that the BPS newsletter has a new name: BPS Bulletin . The name is intended to encompass the mission and spirit of the publication and provides an identity less generic and confusing than “Newsletter.” In addition to the name, the publication has a new look that allows for more content, a variety of display options, larger photos, and more use of color. Although there has been some reorganization, all your favorite features remain in the BPS Bulletin . Watch for a new online delivery format in March!

Zev Bryant Jane Clarke Bertrand Garcia-Moreno Teresa Giraldez Ruben Gonzalez, Jr. Ruth Heidelberger Robert Nakamoto Arthur Palmer Gabriela Popescu Marina Ramirez-Alvarado Erin Sheets Joanna Swain Biophysical Journal Jane Dyson Editor-in-Chief Society Office Ro Kampman Executive Officer Newsletter Executive Editor Rosalba Kampman Managing Editor Beth Staehle Contributing Writers and Proofreaders Dorothy Chaconas Laura Phelan

Caitlin Simpson Elizabeth Vuong Ellen Weiss Production

Ray Wolfe Catie Curry

The Biophysical Society Newsletter (ISSN 0006-3495) is published eleven times per year, January-December, by the Biophysical Society, 5515 Security Lane, Suite 1110, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Distributed to USA members and other countries at no cost. Canadian GST No. 898477062. Postmaster: Send address changes to Biophysical Society, 5515 Security Lane, Suite 1110, Rockville, MD 20852. Copyright © 2018 by the Biophysical Society. Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved.

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