Biophysical Society Bulletin | November 2025

Communities

Randy M. Wadkins Public Affairs Committee

Randy M. Wadkins

PAC wrote an op-ed on the power of vaccines that was pub lished in a newspaper in Jackson, Mississippi (the capital of my home state). I had many positive responses to that piece. Do you have advice for others who might be thinking about volunteering? We’re in a difficult—I would even say dark—time for science right now. Volunteering for any BPS opportunity is a great way of making our Society a force for knowledge, understanding, and enlightenment. When not volunteering for BPS, what do you work on? My research is on unusual DNA structures that regulate tran scription. But when I’m not reading the scientific literature, I’m reading comic books. Total nerd.

Is this your first volunteer position for BPS? If not, what other positions have you held? I was the first Biophysical Society Congressional Fellow. After ward, I agreed to be on the Public Affairs Committee (PAC). After my term on the committee was up, I volunteered to again be on PAC. We are in challenging times for scientists, and I am very excited to have a voice in promoting science via PAC. Why do you volunteer? I volunteer because I have a great passion for biophysics. I always have. When I was a child, I probably didn’t understand how the study of biophysics is the study of life itself. Now I do. I want to share that passion with others. What has been a highlight from your volunteer experience? The highlight of volunteering to be on PAC is the ability to communicate biophysics to the world. I and other members of

Plan an Affiliate Event for Biophysics Week 2026! March 23–27, 2026

Biophysics Week has connected scientists across the globe through events that spark ideas, collaborations, and inspiration. Now it’s your turn to join in! Plan an Affiliate Event that highlights your passion for biophysics—whether it’s a seminar, an outreach activity, or a virtual tour. Together, we’ll inspire the next generation. Register today to receive promotion and marketing support from BPS. www.biophysics.org/outreach/biophysics-week/be-an-affiliate-event-organizer

November 2025

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