Biophysical Society Bulletin | February 2021

Public Affairs

Several coronavirus vaccines are expected to come along during 2021, but due to a limited supply of these vaccines, at least in the initial phase, the immunization of a large section of the population is a formidable challenge. Until large-scale immunization takes place, we need to stay the course and must avoid nonessential air travel. We hope that after immu- nization, students and young researchers will be able to travel to their new study and job locations. We also hope that senior academics, academic institutions, professional bodies, and scientific societies will work together to support the younger generation of researchers who are impacted due to unfore- seen delays and missed opportunities during the pandemic period. Additionally, institution leaders might need to assess and recalibrate their faculty searches, promotions, and tenure clocks. There is a pressing need to redefine scientific produc- tivity and revise the definition of academic success at a time when this global pandemic crashed on every shore. Some uni- versities have already announced new tenure clock extension policies. I believe that professional societies have a lot to offer young researchers and early career faculty members for their career development post-COVID-19. Public Perception of Science in a COVID World by Nuno C. Santos, BPS Ambassador, Portugal Undeniably, the most significant event of 2020 is the current SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic, with its striking death toll from both direct and indirect causes. One needs to bear also SARS-CoV-2 protein that before we would only expect to find in a biophysics or structural biology journal; we saw (or di- rectly participated in the process) virologists, immunologists, mathematicians, biochemists, and biophysicists speaking on prime time TV about specific aspects of the present problem; and, we were (gladly) surprised by mass media journalists discussing the scientific method or the peer-reviewed vs. non-peer-reviewed research findings duality. This pandemic and the race for new mitigation, treatment, and immuniza- tion strategies enabled a drastic increase in the proportion of our fellow citizens that understand the importance of science and scientific research for our society, including basic or fundamental science. Hopefully, this improved public perception may pave the way for more people who are also electors to consider that the investment in scientific research is not a waste of money, and also to consider that at other Nuno C. Santos in mind all the economic impacts, including the loss of employment or revenue for so many worldwide. On the other hand, al- though not outweighing negative impacts, scientists saw a marked change in the public perception of science in several countries. At an unprecedented level, we witnessed major newspapers publishing information on each

levels beside SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19, both personal decisions (e.g., vaccination) and political decisions (e.g., tackling cli- mate changes) should be made based on adequate scientific evidence. Canadian Biophysics in 2021 by John Baenziger, BPS Ambassador, Canada

Biophysicists across the country continue to adapt to the new normal of virtual work. Teaching at most universities in Canada is being conducted online and will remain so for the winter term of 2021. Research labs remain open, albeit with restricted access to ensure appropriate physical distancing. It is

John Baenziger

hoped that the new vaccines will allow everyone in Canada and around the world to start getting back to normal, in-per- son activities in the spring of 2021! David Sivak received the 2021 Young Investigator Award from the Biophysical Society of Canada. Sivak is an assistant professor at Simon Fraser University and was selected for his cutting edge, transformative and interdisciplinary research in nonequilibrium statistical biophysics. The Biophysical Society of Canada will hold its 6th Annual Meeting, virtually, May 25–28, 2021. John Rubinstein is the National Lecturer. The meeting will take place over half days and will include a trainee-led symposium focused on research and career development. Hogmanay Thoughts by Olwyn Byron, BPS Ambassador, United Kingdom I am writing this at home next to our Christmas tree in the final few hours of 2020 — a year so bad, they named it twice. Soon I will be joining my family in our back garden for Hog- manay celebrations to see in the new year with our neigh-

bours — socially distanced, of course — since Covid-19 is still hugely prevalent here in the United Kingdom. For most of us, 2020 has been a dreadful year because of the pandemic, but here in the United Kingdom it has been extra bad for those of us who have this year left the

Olwyn Byron

European Union (EU) against our wishes, a sentiment widely, passionately, and relentlessly expressed within UK science.

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