Draft:Biophysical Society of Canada


Biophysical Society of Canada
Formation1985
TypeNonprofit
HeadquartersHalifax, Nova Scotia
Region
 Canada
Membership
1300
Official language
English, French
President
Claudiu Gradinaru
Vice President
David Langelaan
Websitebiophysicalsociety.ca

The Biophysical Society of Canada (BSC) is a non-profit scientific society dedicated to promoting and advancing biophysics research across Canada. The society fosters collaboration among biophysicists through annual meetings, events, awards, and various programs aimed at enriching the Canadian biophysics community.

Origin

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The Biophysical Society of Canada was established in 1985 by Canadian scientists Don Chapman, Alan Groom, and Ian Smith to unite biophysicists across Canada. The BSC initially collaborated with the Canadian Federation of Biological Societies (CFBS), sponsoring symposia at CFBS's annual meetings for over 15 years until 2009[1].

Throughout its history, the BSC has maintained strong ties with the International Union of Pure and Applied Biophysics (IUPAB), with representation on the IUPAB council since the early 1970s. Notably, Ian Smith, a BSC founder, served as Vice-President and President of the IUPAB. In 1990, the BSC hosted the 10th IUPAB Congress in Vancouver, with Cyril Challice as the organizing committee chair and Ian Smith leading the program committee[1].

Today, the BSC is an independent and diverse society with members from across Canada. Its professional activities include organizing annual meetings, sponsoring symposia, and providing trainee travel awards for both its own and the Biophysical Society's annual meetings. The society also administers various awards, including the Fellows of BSC, the Early-Career Investigator Awards, the Michèle Auger[2] Service Award, and prizes for the best student posters at its annual meetings[3].

Mission

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The Biophysical Society of Canada aims to promote the advancement of biophysics research in Canada. Its mission includes supporting researchers and trainees across various subfields of biophysics through recognition, networking, and professional development opportunities. The BSC facilitates collaboration among Canadian biophysicists and contributes to the career development of early-career scientists within the field.

Annual Meetings

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Since 2015, the BSC has organized annual meetings that serve as platforms for researchers and trainees to present their work. Each meeting includes a trainee symposium focused on career development in biophysics[4].

Awards and Recognition

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The BSC offers various awards, including:

  • Fellow of the Biophysical Society of Canada: Recognizes exceptional contributions to biophysics.[5]
  • Early Career Investigator Award: Honours significant achievements within the first ten years of a researcher's tenure.[6]
  • Michèle Auger Service Award: Established in 2016 to honour Dr. Michèle Auger's dedication, this award recognizes members who have provided exceptional service towards the growth and development of the BSC.[7]
  • Trainee Awards: Include travel grants, poster awards at the annual meeting, doctoral thesis awards, and trainee paper awards.

Governance

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The society is governed by an executive committee composed of volunteer biophysicists dedicated to fostering connections among researchers throughout Canada. The committee focuses on offering recognition, networking, and development opportunities for researchers and trainees in diverse areas of biophysics.

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References

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  1. ^ a b "About". Biophysical Society of Canada. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  2. ^ "Obituary: Michèle Auger, former IUPAB Councilor – IUPAB". iupab.org. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  3. ^ "Awards". Biophysical Society of Canada. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  4. ^ "Annual Conference". Biophysical Society of Canada. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  5. ^ "BSC Fellow". Biophysical Society of Canada. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  6. ^ "Early Career Investigator Award". Biophysical Society of Canada. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  7. ^ "Michèle Auger Service Award". Biophysical Society of Canada. Retrieved 2024-11-13.