Biophysical Society Bulletin | December 2019

President’s Message

Officers President

David W. Piston President-Elect Catherine Royer Past-President Angela Gronenborn Secretary Erin Sheets Treasurer Kalina Hristova Council Zev Bryant Linda Columbus Michelle A. Digman Marta Filizola Teresa Giraldez Ruben Gonzalez, Jr. Joseph A. Mindell Anna Moroni Marina Ramirez-Alvarado Jennifer Ross David Stokes Pernilla Wittung-Stafeshede Biophysical Journal Jane Dyson Editor-in-Chief The Biophysicist Sam Safran Editor-in-Chief

on subscription sales, open access journals generate more revenue by publishing more articles. Library committees evaluating new and renewing subscriptions placed a high value on the long-term reputation of a journal that depended on publishing only the most rigor- ous science. In my experience, academic and professional scientific editors do their best to ensure rigorous peer review, but it is difficult to push continually against business incentives. Failure to maintain the highest standards opens a pathway down a slippery slope that would be difficult to undo. Third, an indirect effect of these changes has been to move much of the arbitration of pub- lishable research from professional scientists (editors of society based journals) to pro- fessional editors (journal house staff). After completing their scientific training, profession- al editorial staff members have focused on publishing rather than discovery, and thus they do not have the depth of experience found with academic editors. Of course, professional ed- itors become broadly knowledgeable and can bring advantages, especially in terms of bridg- ing between authors and reviewers. However, these editors are under pressure to choose papers that will be highly cited in the near-

term (and improve their journal’s Impact Factor that depends only on citations during the first two years following the year of publication), rather than the most impactful work for the long-term growth and health of the field. We are well down the road towards maxi- mizing open access science. As we continue, though, we need to keep in mind and advo- cate for the traditional strengths of our peer reviewed publication system: institutional support for publishing, editorial decisions made by practicing scientists, and placing scientific rigor over financial exigencies. Failure to do so might lead to short-term flash at the expense of long-term damage to scientific research. Together, our Society of diverse and creative thinkers will always achieve a better solution than any single person. The issues facing us that I have written about this year can only be addressed effectively by all of us thinking and working together. Personally and on behalf of the Society, I welcome your thoughts, criti- cisms, and questions. — David W. Piston

Society Office Jennifer Pesanelli Executive Officer Newsletter Executive Editor Jennifer Pesanelli Managing Editor Beth Staehle

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Production Catie Curry Ray Wolfe Proofreader/Copy Editor Laura Phelan 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. Cana- dian GST No. 898477062. Postmaster: Send address changes to Biophysical Society, 5515 Security Lane, Suite 1110, Rockville, MD 20852. Copyright © 2019 by the Biophysical Society. Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved.

Town Hall for Community Input on the National Academies Decadal Survey of Biological Physics Sunday, February 16, 1:00 pm –2:30 pm The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will host a conversation about the current state of biophysics, future research direction, and workforce and education needs. All members of the BPS community are welcome and participation is encouraged.

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