Biophysical Society Bulletin | December 2025

President’s Message

Officers President Lynmarie K. Thompson President-Elect Karen G. Fleming Past-President Gabriela K. Popescu Secretary Teresa Giraldez Treasurer Samantha Harris Council

writes in various settings in support of science. Sean Decatur , president of the American Museum of Natural History, strives to communicate the wonder of science to one of the most diverse classrooms we can imagine, with ~5 million annu al visitors of all ages and backgrounds. Following these speakers, we will hear from two more biophysicists who balance their research programs with significant outreach activities. Theanne Griffith , Assistant Professor of Physiology and Membrane Biology at the University of Cali fornia, Davis, leads a research group investigating mechanisms of proprioception. She also writes science adventure chapter books for children and co-writes a nonfiction companion book series for a Netflix show that addresses the many “Why?” questions posed by the scientists of tomorrow. Daniel Cohen , Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton Universi ty, leads a research group investigating collective cell behaviors involved in healing and growth. He, too, is involved in science storytelling, which he promotes within his lab, in storytelling workshops (including one during Biophysics Week 2025), and through nightclub performances! Finally, the symposium will conclude with a panel discussion answering questions from the audi ence. I am very excited about the President’s Sym posium as an opportunity for BPS to hear from and engage with this diverse set of speakers in a discussion of how scientists can make a positive difference in these challenging times.

Building on the inspiration and ideas from the symposium, that afternoon the Annual Meeting will feature a Professional Development Work shop, “From Data to Dialogue: Artful Strategies Against Misinformation.” Workshop leaders Shahir Rizk and Maggie Fink have thought a great deal about how to tell stories about science that en gage the public, as they recently co-authored the book The Color of North , which tells stories to con vey the amazing power of proteins to non-expert readers. Similarly, they have a new podcast, Rust Belt Science , which tells stories about themselves, other scientists, and science broadly, to help to humanize the people and the endeavor. Rizk and Fink will lead this interactive workshop to provide insights and tools that enable all of us to do more and better science communication. Misguided efforts to undercut science will no doubt continue to distort reality, taking advantage of a change in public health policy or an instance of a reproducibility issue to undermine public trust. Science and medicine are, of course, not per fect, and we should and do strive to continue to improve these human endeavors that, in spite of their limitations, are very clearly our best avenue to understand truth and to maximize our health. So, it is important for everyone, especially scien tists, to regularly tell our inspiring stories about

Silvia Cavagnero Margaret Cheung Theanne Griffith Taviare Hawkins Ryota Iino Anne Kenworthy

Emmanuel Margeat Elizabeth Rhoades Renae Ryan Tamar Schlick Jing Xu Biophysical Journal Vasanthi Jayaraman Editor-in-Chief The Biophysicist Padmini Rangamani Editor-in-Chief Biophysical Reports

Jörg Enderlein Editor-in-Chief

Society Office Jennifer Pesanelli Executive Officer Newsletter

the true value of science to humanity. — Lynmarie K. Thompson , President

Executive Editor Jennifer Pesanelli Managing Editor John Long Production Ray Wolfe Meredith Zimmerman Proofreader/Copy Editor The Biophysical Society Newsletter (ISSN 0006-3495) is published eleven times per year, January-December, by the Biophysical Society, 6903 Rockledge Drive, Suite 540, Bethesda, Maryland 20817. Distributed to USA members and other countries at no cost. Canadian GST No. 898477062. Postmaster: Send address changes to Biophysical Society, 6903 Rockledge Drive, Suite 540, Bethesda, MD 20817. Copyright © 2025 by the Biophysical Society. Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved. Darren Early Laura Phelan

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December 2025

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