Biophysical Society Bulletin | October 2022

President’s Message

Officers President

Gail Robertson President-Elect Taekjip Ha Past-President Frances Separovic Secretary Erin Sheets Treasurer Samantha Harris Council Patricia Bassereau Henry Colecraft Erin C. Dueber Martin Gruebele Gilad Haran Kumiko Hayashi Syma Khalid Francesca Marassi Susan Marqusee Carolyn A. Moores

The Annual Meeting itself is cornerstone to many of our strategic goals, including sharing knowledge in and about biophysics, fostering a global community, and supporting the next generation, so there was no question that we would have a meeting in 2021 even though we couldn’t meet in person. However, the technologies and support required to host BPS 2021 virtually, the lack of exhibitor revenue, and lower than usual attendance resulted in a net loss of $54,800. While that number alone doesn’t seem too bad, it is a significant devia tion from the typical $400,000 to $500,00 of anticipated net revenue. For BPS 2022, many of us were together in person again, but other colleagues were not able to join us due to ongoing travel restric tions and health concerns related to COVID-19. We provided an online poster gallery and recorded Subgroup Saturday sessions, work shops, and awards talks to support those who were not able to be in San Francisco. We also had several on-site adjustments, including vaccination verification, a COVID testing ven dor, extra sanitization measures, etc. to help everyone stay safe and healthy. These virtual and on-site changes, along with a slightly low

er than average attendance, resulted in a sec ond year of negative returns from the Annual Meeting, a net loss of $27,500. For the 2023 budget, we anticipate the Annual Meeting will be near break-even, neither losing money nor returning a profit, as we continue to deal with the impacts of the pandemic and inflation. What happens in a year like 2021 when a his torically significant source of net revenue like the Annual Meeting loses money? Fortunately, BPS leadership has been diligent over the past two decades and has built reserves for just such a purpose. BPS reserve policy ensures that we have at least 100% of our operating budget in reserve to provide a backstop in the event of an emergency. In 2020 and 2021, we had to draw down on those reserves to help cover operational expenses and provide unin terrupted programs and services to members. A budget is a tool that helps us plan and allocate resources. Many stakeholders are in volved, and much time and thought go into the budgeting process at BPS. The result reflects

Kandice Tanner Valeria Vasquez Biophysical Journal Vasanthi Jayaraman Editor-in-Chief The Biophysicist Sam Safran Editor-in-Chief Biophysical Reports

our values and strategic priorities. — Jennifer Pesanelli , Executive Officer

Jörg Enderlein Editor-in-Chief

Society Office Jennifer Pesanelli Executive Officer Newsletter

BPS Sponsored Lecturer at EBSA 2023 Stockholm, Sweden | July 31–August 4, 2023

Executive Editor Jennifer Pesanelli Managing Editor John Long Production Ray Wolfe Proofreader/Copy Editor The Biophysical Society Newsletter (ISSN 0006-3495) is published eleven times per year, January-December, by the Biophysical Society, 5515 Security Lane, Suite 1110, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Distributed to USA members and other countries at no cost. Cana dian GST No. 898477062. Postmaster: Send address changes to Biophysical Society, 5515 Security Lane, Suite 1110, Rockville, MD 20852. Copyright © 2022 by the Biophysical Society. Darren Early Laura Phelan

BPS is pleased to sponsor EBSA Plenary Speaker Karen Fleming at the 14th EBSA Congress, July 31-August 4, 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden. EBSA 2023 is hosted by the Swedish Society for Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology and will be held at the Aula Magna at Stockholm University.

Karen Fleming, BPS member and Chair of the Committee on Profes sional Opportunities for Women (CPOW).

For the most up-to-date information about EBSA 2023, please visit www.mkon.nu/ebsa.

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October 2022

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