Preparations are continuing for our joint Annual Meeting with the Japanese Society this summer in Hilo. Alex Mogilner, as chief organizer representing SMB, has been doing an outstanding job, and the meeting looks like it will be particularly exciting. The lineup both of plenary speakers and mini-symposia is very promising, and there are sure to be very good contributed papers as well. Don't miss out on a truly exciting opportunity.

I just returned from a trip that raised several interesting issues I would like to share with you. The first is one that needs your help to further the goals of our society. While at NSF in Washington, I had the chance to talk with Mike Steuerwalt, who is in the Applied Mathematics Program. NSF is still searching for an individual to play a leadership role in the funding of mathematical biology by serving as a 'rotator' at NSF in the Applied Mathematics Program. I have heard (and seen) that this can be an exciting opportunity for the right individual - someone with sufficient breadth and knowledge and the right kinds of skills to work with others - and you will have a real chance to affect the direction of research in mathematical biology. If you are interested, or if you know of someone else who might be interested and are willing to provide this name, phone or e-mail Mike Steuerwalt at (703) 292-4860. Ultimately, the support of mathematical biology at NSF and other federal agencies is not a question of them, but a question of us.

Second, I had the opportunity to participate in the First Brazilian Symposium on Mathematical and Computational Biology (see http://www.biomat.org for more information). This is a group that is in the early stages of forming a scientific society, and they have already planned their second symposium. I would urge any of you who have the opportunity to work with these wonderful scientists to do so in the future. Our society has supported efforts throughout the world in the past, and by continuing to do so will help further the study of mathematical biology throughout the world.

Finally, I must report with regret that the editor of our journal, Lee Segel, has decided that he has reached an age where he would like to retire. Lee has overseen the tremendous growth of our journal in many ways, and he will be almost impossible to replace. The committee given this difficult task is headed by Philip Maini and I am certain he would welcome any assistance or suggestions.

Looking ahead, Mark Lewis starts his term as President at the end of the annual meeting, and I will then serve as past President for one year. (This means elections will be held next year.) I will continue to look forward to hearing from you with any ideas, suggestions or concerns you have.

Yours sincerely,
Alan Hastings President, Society for Mathematical Biology