As the days slip by and the start of the BPS annual meeting gets closer, the anticipation and excitement echoes through the corridor of the Biological and Clinical Sciences at Linköping University (LIU). And I cannot wait to dive into all the novel and inspiring talks starting on Saturday!
Each group at LIU attending the meeting is preparing by refining and rehearsing their presentations, printing their posters, and highlighting the key talks and activities they’re most interested in on the BPS App. I had the opportunity to speak with some of the attendees from LIU, who have been attending the meeting nearly every year since their PhD, to learn why they choose to return to this event year after year
“It’s both the reminder of the vibrant community you are part of, an extended family that share your passion for science and research, and the possibility to gain insights into different research projects. From sharing the exciting spark of new ideas to listening to completed and published work, it is inspiring to see the full spectrum of research projects at the BPS Annual Meeting” said Sara Liin, Principal investigator and senior associate professor at Linköping University.
Antonios Pantazis, Principal investigator and associate professor at Linköping University, said he has been attending the meeting every year since 2008.
“Connecting with the amazing biophysics community—sharing both excitement and anxiety—is definitely one of the main reasons we look forward to this meeting every year. We all share a genuine interest and appreciation for each other's work. The BPS is somewhat my drum-circle: once a year we get together, we share our culture about biophysics, and we release energy in form of electrons”.
You can probably tell by now that the Annual Meeting is so much more than just a great scientific conference. Not only it offers the thrilling opportunity to dive into five days of fully packed scientific program that will undoubtedly inspire your research but is also a moment to reconnect with your old colleagues and friends. People you may have met in past conferences, collaborated with on research projects, or old lab mates! While the main focus of the event might be the sessions and workshops, catching up with friends adds an entirely different layer to the experience. It is something like marking a day on your calendar to see your friends that live all over the world: the Annual Meeting is your favorite restaurant you meet at for dinner!
Whether it is at the registration point, as you walk through the conference hall or during the platform and poster sessions, it is always exciting to bump into familiar faces. Personally, I am looking forward to reconnecting with my former lab mates and fellows and catching up on our research, projects and goals for this year but also to reminisce about our last research adventures together as PhDs and Postdocs!
Regardless of whether it is grabbing a coffee between sessions, sitting next to each other at talks or going for lunch or dinner together, these moments are extremely valuable during a conference and allow you to strengthen bonds that can last beyond the event itself.
And experienced attendees agree with this. “Beside preparing my poster and planning the days based on the program, I am reaching out to other people to meet up and catching up during the conference” added Sara, talking about the heartwarming moment of reconnection with old friends.
“Preparation for the meeting as PI is different since the earlier days during my PhD and one of the main focus is to prepare my trainees in the best way possible. Beside doing that and eagerly waiting for the program to come out and planning my schedule, I look forward to reconnecting with old friends and collaborators to talk about biophysics. And why not, maybe over a beer! The meeting is an intellectually beautiful experience, and you want to take in as much biophysics as you can”.
And when I asked whether they had some tips to help first-time attendees navigating the meeting, both agreed that planning ahead of time and marking the sessions on your app or calendar would help you greatly. But also, spending time in the poster hall and talking to people with different backgrounds and expertise is a great chance to make the most of the conference.
“The BPS offers two major opportunities: learning about science and showing your science” added Antonios in giving advice to first time attendees. “If you are presenting a poster, you have one day out of five to show your science, so don’t waste it. Spend the day at the poster even during less crowded times (but don’t forget to keep hydrated and keep up your calories with snacks!)”.
And if you feel shy or intimidated in approaching people, trust us, DON’T BE! People are going to be happy to talk to you, answer your questions and foster a formative scientific conversation. So, do not miss out on the chance to meet new people! I know, it can feel intimidating at first but striking up conversations with strangers often leads to some of the most rewarding connections you will make at meeting. And why not? They can become great opportunities for new collaborations, ideas for future projects, or simply a fresh perspective on your own work.
The excitement for the BPS Annual Meeting builds rapidly by anticipating new insights, inspiring connections and the chance to immerse yourself into the latest in science and research, but also for meeting people that share the same passion as you and for strengthening the beautiful community we are in.
See you all in LA.