[3] Discussions between prominent biophysicists in 1955 and 1956 led to the planning of the society's first meeting in Columbus, Ohio in 1957, with about 500 attendees.

Among the scientists involved in the early effort were Ernest C. Pollard, Samuel Talbot, Otto Schmitt, Kenneth Stewart Cole, W. A. Selle, Max Lauffer, Ralph Stacy, Herman P. Schwan, and Robley C. Williams.

[8] Starting in 2010 with "Calcium Signaling" in Beijing,[9] the society now also sponsors 3-4 smaller thematic meetings annually across the world.

In February 2004, the society released a statement supporting freedom of communication of scientific data, supporting the existing policy that prior classification strictly for national security reasons should be the only reason communication of scientific data should be restricted.

[13] The society is also active in supporting federal funding of science, and provides materials to assist scientists in communicating with elected officials.

[14] The society participates in the annual Science-Engineering-Technology Congressional Visits Day, in which scientists, engineers and business leaders meet with elected officials in the United States Congress.

[15] Beginning with the 2015-2016 year, the Biophysical Society has sponsored a congressional fellow through the AAAS Technology and Policy Fellowship Program.