Biophysical Society Bulletin | April 2020

Communities and Outreach

Spring 2020 Call for Networking Events APPLICATION DEADLINE: JUNE 1, 2020

Are you looking to connect with local biophysicists? Do you have an idea for a networking event and want to host one in your area? BPS can help! Since 2011, BPS has provided mini-grants to support networking events for local communities of biophys- icists to come together. Past events have included career panels, casual coffee meet-ups, trivia nights, as well as programs of short talks and posters from different institutions in one geographical area that may not otherwise interact. The format is up to you! The goal is to bring biophysicists together. All current Society members are eligible to apply. Please note that your event must meet the following requirements: • The event must take place in an area not currently well served by other opportunities for networking among biophysicists; • A meeting size of approximately 25 to a maximum of 150 attendees is best; • It must be advertised prominently as a BPS-sponsored event; and • If there is a speaker list, it should include graduate students and postdocs. Submitted applications should be for events occurring no earlier than August 2020. The networking event submission site will be open through June 1, 2020. Applicants will be notified of the results mid-July. If selected, you may receive up to $500 through the Membership Committee’s mini-grant program to host the event. For more information about the proposal requirements, and to view past and upcoming networking events, please visit www.biophysics.org/networking-events. • The event should be no longer than one day; • It should be a stand-alone event (not part of a larger conference); • The event should promote interaction between different institutions and/or communities in a geographical area not served by the BPS Annual Meeting; • There should be an emphasis on promotion of biophysics;

Call for BPS Ambassadors Program APPLICATION DEADLINE: JULY 15, 2020 Are you an advocate for biophysics education and knowledge sharing? If so, please consider applying for the BPS Ambassador Program. BPS works hard to continue to develop biophysics as an inclusive, interdisciplinary international field and the Ambassador Program will create a global network of BPS members that will serve as local Society resources in their specific-countries or regions to promote the field and foster conversations around biophysics. Ambassadors will play a key role in provid- ing the Society with relevant local content to share with membership and will serve as BPS’s go-to contact in their country and region. Through this program, the Society hopes to grow the biophysics network by educating and inspiring others to pursue careers in biophysics and further develop its advocacy efforts around the world.

Ambassador Program

Empowering Biophysics Globally

Currently, there are BPS Ambassadors in Canada, India, Portugal and the United Kingdom. At this time, we welcome applicatoins from outside those countries and the United States. An ideal country Ambassador is a mid-career to senior scientist, actively engaged in biophysics research and committed to remaining in the field for the duration of the Ambassadorship, an active paid member of the Society in good standing, able to attend the Annual Meeting at the start of their term, working proficiency in English, and has a demonstrated ability to contribute to organizations or scientific societies outside of their normal job duties. To learn more about the program, Ambassador eligibility and benefits, please visit www.biophysics.org/ambassadors.

April 2020

17

T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E B I O P H Y S I C A L S O C I E T Y