Biophysical Society Bulletin | March 2019

Public Affairs

BiophysicsWeek The Society’s Public Affairs Committee is developing some exciting events and programs to coincide with Biophysics Week 2019. Take 5 for Science Policy The Biophysical Society has conducted video interviews with Washington, DC policy makers to discuss science advocacy, policy, and the perception of science on Capitol Hill and in the public sphere. These short, non-partisan videos will be shared during Biophysics Week on our website and social media pages. Interviews: Honorable Rush Holt

Congressional Briefings The Biophysical Society is hosting two congressional briefings in March. On March 13, the Society is working with Congressman Bill Foster to host our

member Jennifer Doudna for a CRIS- PR-101 Briefing. The presentation will provide a lay-person-friendly overview of the technology, touch on patenting issues, and is intended for the more than 60 new members of Congress. On March 26, the Society is working with Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D- CA) to host our member Eva Nogales for a briefing titled The Cryo-EM Revolution. In 2017, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to three scientists who played key roles in developing Cryo-EM. The technique is now quickly becoming an important scientific tool that will

Chief Executive Officer, American Asso- ciation for the Advancement of Science Former Member of Congress (D-NJ) Co-founder of the Congressional Research & Development Caucus

impact many areas of human health, including drug discov- ery and development. Nogales will discuss the history of the technology, how it is used today, and share some potential future policy recommendations to further its development. This briefing will be sponsored by the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB), JEOL.USA, the Lawrence Berkeley Nation- al Lab (LBL), and Thermo-Fisher Scientific, in partnership with the University of California – Berkeley.

Honorable Bill Foster Member of Congress (D-IL)

Member, House Science Committee The only trained physicist in Congress

From the Blog biophysics.org/blog

Honorable Dan Lipinski Member of Congress (D-IL)

How Does Congress Decide on the Annual Spending of Our Tax Dollars? Public Affairs Committee members Jonathan King , MIT, and Eric Sundberg , University of Maryland, along with BPS Public Affairs and Outreach Director Sean Winkler , explain the Congressional budget process on the BPS blog: https:/ www.biophysics.org/blog/public-affairs-committee-how- does-congress-decide-on-the-annual-spending-of-our- tax-dollars

Member, House Science Committee Engineer by training and holds a PhD in Political Science

Honorable Jamie Raskin Member of Congress (D-MD)

The National Institutes of Health is contained in his Congressional District Colon cancer survivor, champion for biomedical research

March 2019

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