Half a century of biophysics: a comparison of participant statistics from the 6th and 21st IUPAB congresses

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Scientific Congresses
• International Collaboration

Background:

• Analysis of participant statistics from two International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics (IUPAB) congresses held in Kyoto, Japan.
• Comparison of attendee demographics between the 1978 and 2024 IUPAB congresses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report on the changes in participant statistics between the 1978 and 2024 IUPAB congresses.
• To examine the factors contributing to the observed shifts in regional and national participation.
• To provide recommendations for the future direction of IUPAB.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of participant data by region and country for the 1978 and 2024 IUPAB congresses.
• Qualitative examination of factors influencing participation trends, including society characteristics, transportation, communication, and geopolitics.

Main Results:

• Significant increase in participant numbers from Asia.
• Notable decrease in participants from Europe and the United States.
• Identification of key factors influencing these demographic shifts.

Conclusions:

• The shift in participation highlights evolving global engagement in biophysics.
• Understanding these trends is crucial for the future strategic planning and inclusivity of IUPAB.
• Recommendations are proposed to foster continued international collaboration and participation in biophysics.