Looking Forward to Cell Bio 2025 and Finding Hope for 2026
Looking Forward to Cell Bio 2025 and Finding Hope for 2026
By Mary Munson
As 2025 draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the challenges, both professional and personal, that our community has faced this year. I don’t want to dwell on it here, but I do want to acknowledge the difficulties that many of us have faced, and send a small congratulations to us for making it this far.
Many people asked me at the Cell Bio meeting last year what was my vision for 2025 for ASCB. This was a hard one to answer, as our community had already started worrying after the U.S. election, and so I bravely (sadly?) answered, “Try to survive it.” And we are fighting.
Scientists and allies around the world have spoken up in support of our research, and advocated for our funding, our junior scientists, our immigrant colleagues, and our core values. In this spirit, the ASCB Public Policy Committee worked even harder this year to defend our science, scientists, and research funding. The Public Service Award in 2025 honored Dr. Francis Collins for his recent advocacy and defense of American science.
While we are not done with 2025 yet, our resilience and determination keep us going. My hope for 2026 and beyond is sustained by this amazing community and the next generations of fabulous scientists who constantly inspire me. Together we are strong, and I hope that we can continue forward together and envision how we can build back better. This is the optimistic spirit that I carry with me as we come together in Philadelphia for the Cell Bio 2025 meeting. There is a lot to be excited about, and I look forward to seeing you there!
Special President’s Session This Year
I am fortunate to support a very special President’s session this year, entitled “The Rising Tide of Science Denial and How Cell Biologists Can Combat It”. This year is the 100th anniversary of the Scopes trial, and the 20th anniversary of the Kitzmiller v. Dover trial on “intelligent design” (which took place in nearby Harrisburg, PA). This Saturday session is critical as ASCB continues our mission of supporting science education, outreach and, as described by Dr. Kenneth Miller from Brown University, organizer of this session and speaker, the “battle for America’s soul.”
Cultural and political trends in the U.S. have allowed science denial and outright hostility to science to rise to the point where they pose serious threats to research as well as to science education and public health. Speakers with broad expertise in confronting science denial will address issues in:
- Evolution (Kenneth Miller, Brown University)
- Climate Science (Michael Mann, University of Pennsylvania)
- Vaccines (Paul Offit, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)
- Techniques of Science Denial (Gale Sinatra, University of Southern California)
Discussion and public Q&A will focus on the roles that individual scientists, including ASCB members, can play in shaping public understanding of science.
Some excerpts that particularly resonated with me:
- “We [scientists] must, in short, take back our politics. We need to restore the rightful role of science in our political and social discourse if we are to maintain the capacity to address the major challenges we face, including the climate crisis and worsening pandemics.” [p. 248, Science Under Siege, Michael Mann and Peter Hotenz].
- “The overpowering interest [in science] is a tremendous opportunity for all of us in the scientific community. It means that the ground is still fertile. And if we can step outside our laboratories and field stations for long enough, we will find a public eager to embrace the practical realities of scientific reason. But we have got to make the case!” [p, 219, Only a Theory, Kenneth R. Miller]
- “The need to understand science denial, doubt, and resistance is paramount. How do we keep ourselves from falling for such schemes? We are living at a time when well-substantiated factual claims based on evidentiary science . . . can be doubted by large swaths of the public.” [p. 13, Science Denial: Why it Happens and What to do About it. Gale M. Sinatra and Barbara K. Hofer]
Four Things To Always Love About The Cell Bio Meeting
1. Cutting-edge and Innovative New Research. At the Cell Bio meeting, you will hear about the latest and greatest cell biology research, across many diverse cell types, organisms, molecular mechanisms, organelles, methodologies, and diseases. Thanks to the hard work of Program Co-chairs Kandice Tanner and Florent Ginhoux and their Program Committee for putting together such an outstanding program, and the Program Staff who have implemented it!
There are so many opportunities to see and discuss research that is either broadly relevant across fields, specific to your field, or interdisciplinary combinations that may spark new ideas for your research. Check out phenomenal keynote speakers on both the Saturday evening session and at the closing session on Wednesday. We have reintroduced the ever-popular member-organized Saturday Special Interest Subgroups; there are Symposia every day and minisymposia across various fields that showcase the latest research discoveries; and multitudes of posters to visit. Other sessions highlight our ASCB Honorific Awards that celebrate exceptional scientists at every level. Come support and cheer for our next generation of rising scientific stars at their posters, the MOSAIC program alumni talks at their “What’s Next” session, and the MBoC Future of Cell Biology talks. I wish I could see everything and everyone! Make sure you stay organized with the Cell Bio 2025 App (apple version, android version), to make sure you get a chance to attend your favorite sessions, and make sure to take some breaks to hang out and recharge.
2. Professional and career development opportunities. One of the strengths of our professional Cell Biology society goes beyond the science—to support and nurture our community. My gratitude to the dedicated committee members who organize events at the Cell Bio meeting and throughout the year, focused on topics such as: advocacy, education, outreach, career development, leadership, mentorship, publishing, inclusive communities and support of scientists that are under-represented in science, mental health, etc. Check out a variety of lectures, panel discussions, networking events, and discussion tables every day. There’s something to support everyone, no matter what your career stage!
Meet the leaders in our cell biology community. The Cell Bio meeting is a powerful opportunity to engage with amazing scientists after their talks or at their posters, at networking sessions, or even in the hallway (say HI! to our newest ASCB Fellows; to discuss science, possibly collaborate, or perhaps even find a job.
3. Exhibitors and the latest technologies. The vendors and exhibitors are a critically important part of our ASCB community, bringing their state-of-the-art new innovative technologies and ideas to the research community. It is always exciting to walk the floor, checking out all the exhibitor’s booths. Not only do many of them have cool swag and tasty chocolates (!), but the exhibitors are engaging and knowledgeable, and thrilled to show off their scientific products and answer technical questions. Enriching this experience are a multitude of Exhibitor Tech talks and Workshops to push your research forward!
4. Community. I always highlight this, but cannot stress enough how much support and happiness comes from engaging with colleagues through networking sessions (and informally over beverages and/or meals), discussion tables, posters, etc. Since my first ASCB in 1998, I have made hundreds of new friends, gained dozens of new ideas for my research program, initiated multiple productive collaborations, recruited new postdocs to join my lab, and found my place in the Cell Biology community. I hope all who attend the Cell Bio meeting have similar positive experiences.
As always, another year brings tidings of the passing of colleagues who were important to us. I don’t have space to dwell on them (many have been highlighted throughout the year, and we will continue to cherish their impact on our community), but I do want to share a brief personal farewell to Dr. Zara Weinberg. Zara was a cell biologist at UCSF, and an emerging star in the Cell Bio community as an ASCB MOSAIC scholar and a Leading Edge Fellow, and as a member of the ASCB Women in Cell Biology (WICB) Committee. Beyond her fabulous science, as many of us knew from powerful social media posts and our personal interactions with her, Zara was a tireless and fierce advocate for gender equity and the fair treatment of trans scientists. We will continue to be inspired by her memory and are grateful to have had her in our lives, if only for a brief time.
In conclusion, I want to give thanks to all who have stood up for science, advocated to Congress, supported colleagues and junior scientists, and who continue to support our mission and values, especially in times that are so uncertain. Together we are strong.
This is the best community I’ve ever been a part of, and I am honored to have served as your President for 2025. I am very grateful to our Interim CEO Matt Loeb, and our dedicated and hard-working ASCB staff who are real partners in our society—if you get a chance, stop them at the meeting and thank them! I look forward to continuing to serve in 2026 as Past-President, in support of our next President Rong Li, and together we welcome President-elect Elizabeth Chen.
Here’s hoping 2026 brings a lot of amazing scientific discoveries, supportive scientific funding, happy reviewer #2s, positive career trajectories, and much personal happiness for all.
Be well and take care,
— Mary
Mary Munson, ASCB President