Abstract
This commentary is a report by two senior members of the Biophysical Society of Japan (BSJ), who were fortunate enough to be able to attend, on the changes in participant statistics between two IUPAB congresses held in Kyoto in 1978 and 2024. The two tables presented illustrate the changes: one shows the number of participants by region (Asia, Europe, etc.) and the other shows the participation by country. Asia has seen a significant increase in participation, while Europe and the United States have seen a decrease. We examined the factors behind this shift, including the unique characteristics of the BSJ and the Biophysical Society (United States, BPS), advances in transportation and communications, and geopolitical changes affecting Asia and Europe. Finally, we made recommendations for the future direction of the IUPAB.