At its June meeting, the Biophysical Society Council came together for a day and a half of thoughtful discussion, decision making, and forward planning. Our conversations were grounded in a shared commitment to the Society’s mission and to you, the members who make this community so vibrant. Across topics from publishing to meetings, governance to global engagement, Council focused on one central question: how can BPS continue to deliver meaningful value to our members while positioning the Society for the future?
With the issuance of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB’s) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Federal Financial Assistance and its potential devastating impacts on science two days before Council convened, we were challenged to not be derailed from our agenda yet factor in potential implications of the pending rule.
Early on the agenda, we addressed BPS Committee and Task Force items, which involved discussions on expanding inclusion, engagement, and representation. We approved the 2026–2027 Committee Rosters and received an early update on the Task Force on Industry Members, led by BPS Council member Tim Craggs. Both items sparked discussion on how to broaden participation across the Society, including strengthening representation of scientists from industry, faculty and trainees at primarily undergraduate institutions, international members, and early-career scientists and students.
Efforts will include more intentional outreach, clearer pathways into volunteer leadership, and enhanced programming and support. One concrete outcome is the development of clearer communication about volunteer opportunities, including what roles are available, how to get involved, and how members can contribute at various stages of their careers. BPS has always depended on the energy and expertise of its volunteers, and expanding these pathways is essential to sustaining and evolving the Society.
Council approved the appointment of a new Editor-in-Chief of Biophysical Journal (official announcement coming soon), an important step in ensuring continued scientific excellence and leadership for the Society’s flagship publication. There was also discussion of how to connect the journal to broader Society priorities, including engagement with the Annual Meeting and emerging areas of science.
Council discussed The Biophysicist and strongly affirmed the journal’s role in supporting biophysics education at all levels. At the same time, we recognized the need to strengthen the journal’s visibility and positioning, clarify its value to authors and readers, and expand awareness across different segments of the membership. In the coming months, members can expect to see increased promotion of The Biophysicist and opportunities to engage with the journal, whether by submitting content, contributing ideas, or sharing it within your networks.
Society finances are a recurring topic at every Council meeting. Treasurer Samantha Harris presented the 2025 draft audit. BPS remains in a strong financial position, with healthy reserves and a solid operational foundation. At the same time, there was recognition that the external environment is evolving. Council emphasized the importance of proactive planning to ensure long-term sustainability, including scenario planning for potential changes in meeting participation and article submissions.
Reflecting on what BPS provides to our members today and what we must continue to strengthen, Council noted that members consistently point to the Society’s unique role in fostering community, scientific exchange, professional identity, and collaboration. The Annual Meeting remains a cornerstone of that value, serving as a place where new ideas are shared, careers are shaped, and lifelong professional relationships are built. At the same time, Council emphasized that value must extend beyond a single event. Throughout the year, members engage through BPS journals, webinars, Subgroups, advocacy, small meetings, and volunteer service. Ensuring that these offerings are well integrated, accessible, and aligned with member needs remains a top priority.
A central area of focus for the May/June Council meeting is the BPS Strategic Plan. We spent considerable time discussing how the plan is being implemented across the organization. While there is strong alignment of programs with the plan’s goals, there is also a clear opportunity to better articulate progress and impact. This is not about adding burden, but about improving transparency and ensuring that our collective efforts are clearly connected to our shared goals.
Of course, strategic planning cannot be done in a vacuum, so we brought to this discussion the many challenges facing our members, including US federal funding, numerous visa issues, evolving publication policies, and the proposed OMB rule referenced above. Council discussed the potential implications of these changes for the biophysics community and for the broader scientific enterprise. There is significant concern about how these policies will affect research, international collaboration, and participation in scientific meetings.
Regarding the OMB notice specifically, we recognized the need for a big response to the proposed rules. At the moment, our most impactful tool is to provide comments, and we are working with the BPS Public Affairs Committee to write and submit formal comments on behalf of the Society. Since Council convened, our staff have been attending numerous emergency meetings with our coalition partners and other scientific societies to be able to fully inform our membership on all the issues of importance to BPS. As you have seen in the past month, we issued a statement (www.biophysics.org/news-room/biophysical-society-condemns-omb-proposed-rule-to-politicize-science), are preparing official comments, are planning a webinar, and are working to provide guidance to members on how you can engage individually. We know that clear, concise, and compelling communication about the value of science—to innovation, to the economy, and to society—is essential at this moment.
The discussions at this Council meeting reflected both confidence in the Society’s strengths and an understanding that continued evolution is necessary. The commitment across Council was not simply to discuss ideas, but to translate them into action in support of our members.
As always, the success of BPS depends on its members. We are grateful for your contributions, your insights, and your ongoing commitment to the field of biophysics.
We look forward to continuing this work together.
—Karen G. Fleming, President
—Jennifer Pesanelli, Executive Officer