Another year, another inspiring Biophysical Society Annual Meeting

I truly want to acknowledge the incredible work the organizers do every single year. The schedules run on time, sessions are thoughtfully structured, and everything feels intentionally coordinated. The session chairs, volunteers, and IT teams provide constant support, making the entire experience smooth and stress-free. One detail I especially appreciate is how sessions are clustered by topic. It makes it much easier to follow a scientific thread without running across the convention center. And when it’s poster time, it’s poster time, no competing events, no fear of missing out. You can fully concentrate, engage in deep discussions, and explore ideas without distraction. The app and distribution maps also make it easy to identify the posters most relevant to your interests. A few taps, and you have a personalized scientific route for the evening.

Scientifically, there was a strong presence of AI and machine learning this year. I saw people using AlphaFold in creative ways to model complexes, and others combining structural and sequence data to make functional predictions. Some were even extracting dynamic insights without running traditional molecular dynamics simulations, a reminder of how much modeling approaches are evolving. There was also beautiful work on visualization. Modelers are using tools like Blender to create stunning protein representations and dynamic animations that elevate how we communicate structural biology.

The "Not-So-Good" Part

Now, let’s be honest,  who really has the energy for workshops from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., especially when sessions start at 8:15 a.m. and restart at 8 a.m. the next morning?

I sometimes wonder why conferences are structured this way, or why they often run from Saturday to Wednesday. There are probably logistical reasons behind it, but as attendees, it can feel like a long stretch without much room to pause. Maybe it’s also a reminder that we each have to navigate these meetings in our own way, choosing what to attend, what to skip, and when to rest. Conferences are enriching, but they are also demanding. Finding that balance is part of the experience, too.

As my supervisor often says, if you leave a conference with a few new ideas for your own projects and some meaningful connections, then you’ve succeeded. By that measure, this BPS was definitely a success. I’ll add one more thing: every time you challenge yourself, you grow a little more. No matter what, you are already a great scientist! In the end, BPS remains a place where science, community, and personal growth intersect, and that’s what keeps me coming back each year.