Biophysical Society Bulletin | July/August 2018

Outreach

BPS-sponsored Awards at Regional Science Fairs The Biophysics Award, sponsored by the Biophysical Soci- ety’s Public Affairs Committee, was presented at 33 science fairs in 17 states this year. The Public Affairs Committee has sponsored these awards since 2009. The award is presented to the high school student with the best biophysics-related project. The winning projects varied in topic from cardiovas- cular research, to bioinks for 3D bioprinting, to developing a biomedical adhesive gel, to public health. BPS received thank you notes from some of the awardees, letting us know how appreciative they were of the recogni- tion. Sophia Breslin , the awardee from the Montgomery Coun- ty Science Research Competition in Maryland wrote, “I really appreciate you recognizing my research project! I have learned so much about the importance of protein-based medicines.” Another awardee, Brian Duffy , wrote “Thank you so much for sponsoring the Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair this year. I appreciate your award recognition of my science project and encouraging me along as I pursue biochemistry next year in college.” BPS couldn’t give these awards without the help of members who volunteer to judge on our behalf. One perennial judge, Josh Vermaas , wrote a blog article about why he judges at science fairs year after year. He wrote that he expected the science fairs to be filled with baking soda volcano projects, having only seen science fairs as they are portrayed in the media. He was pleasantly surprised at the first science fair

he judged, writing, “There were no volcanoes to be seen, and I had a blast talking with the students about their projects, what they learned, and what they were planning on do- ing in the next few years, particularly if they were thinking about college. The experience of get- ting out into the world to talk with young engaged minds was a lot of fun, so much so that I’ve kept an eye out for other oppor- tunities to interact with budding new scientists.” The full article can be read here: https:/www. biophysics.org/blog/just- check-the-box-or-why-i- judge-science-fairs

Evelyn Bodoni and Nicole Hankovsky, the joint winners of the Biophysics Award at the Denver Metro Regional Science Fair (judged by Dr. Vermaas), standing in front of their presentation. Their project was titled “Novel Strategies for De- tecting and Treating Podocyte Injury in Diabetic Nephropathy.”

If you’re interested in being a Science Fair judge for the Biophysics Awards in future years, please visit your myBPS profile and the “Get Involved” section of the website, then check “Yes” to the question, “Interested in being a judge at a BPS-sponsored Science Fair?” If the Society is presenting the award at a fair in your area, you will be contacted to see if you are available for judging. BPS will be sponsoring awards again in the 2018–2019 school year. Renew Your BPS Dues Online Members can now renew their 2019 membership. Don’t wait renew today

to keep your member benefits. www.biophysics.org/ RENEW

July/August 2018

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