Editorial

Dear readers,

Operations research is viewed by many as a methodology rather than a specific focus on a particular domain. That flexibly allows practitioners to apply their skills to a wide variety of areas of interest. It can also easily be argued that no science is more important than biology: after all, at a fundamental level, biology helps explain why we are. Operations Research, let me introduce you to biology. Long gone are the days of Mendel-like Monks cross fertilizing peas to discover how genetics works. The new biology lies at the interdisciplinary intersection of physics, computer science, optimization, and chemistry, requiring global teams and thousands of years of computing power to answer fundamental questions of life. Operations research has a tremendous opportunity to have a significant impact on this important life science.

In this issue, we focus on biology and other questions of life and medicine. In their opinion piece, Harvey Greenberg and Allen Holder argue that operations research is well poised to have a significant effect on the field of computational biology. Along similar lines, we present two reprints of articles recently published in INFORMS journals. The first, Optimal Testing of Digital Microfluidic Biochips, examines how to optimally test the equipment that is used to run experiments on the buildings blocks of life. In Inventory Management of Platelets in Hospitals: Optimal Inventory Policy for Perishable Products with Regular and Optional Expedited Replenishments, the authors discuss how to best manage inventory of platelets in a hospital to minimize waste and maximize blood availability.

We also turn the spotlight on an INFORMS society as well as an INFORMS student chapter. The INFORMS society of Transportation Science and Logistics lays out its history, its present, and its path to the future. The society also explains what awards and activities are associated with it. We then highlight some of the recent accomplishments of the Oklahoma State University INFORMS student chapter.

Lastly, we would like to highlight some upcoming changes and ask for your help. Much of the editorial board will be graduating soon, and we will be looking for new editors to carry the torch. If you are interested and motivated, please reach out to us.

Thanks,

The Editors (Ezgi, Jason, Patricio, & Ryan)