Highlights of ISAPP 2024 from the Lens of 2 SFA First-Time Attendees
We asked 2 SFA members what their experience of the ISAPP meeting in Cork was like. Here is what Olalekan S. Fadare, Ph.D and Annika M. Weber, MSc said:
What were your highlights from this year’s ISAPP meeting in Cork?
Annika: One of my highlights from this year’s ISAPP meeting in Cork was connecting with the SFA members. It was my first time attending ISAPP, and I appreciated having this small student group at the conference. The setting facilitated important connections, and I truly enjoyed meeting and engaging with peers from around the world.
Olalekan: One of my highlights from this year’s ISAPP meeting in Cork would be the compelling evidence supporting the combination of metagenomics and culturomics in studying the gut microbiome. Another highlight for me was the discovery of the Small Intestinal MicroBiome Aspiration (SIMBA) capsule technology. It’s an ingestible, single-use capsule enables passive sampling of small bowel luminal fluid. This is innovative for me, as it makes human GIT sampling much easier.
2. What obstacles did you face during the conference, and how did you overcome them?
Annika: One of the toughest challenges I faced during the conference was the hurdle of networking. To overcome this, I worked on interacting with one or two people at a time rather than trying to approach large groups of people. This helped me create more meaningful connections. Overall, the benefits of the conference outweighed this minor obstacle, and I enjoyed participating at ISAPP.
Olalekan: I did not encounter any challenges during the conference. The logistics and communication were excellent. The distance between the lodge, the conference venue, and other places I visited was very convenient. Thanks to the organizers for their outstanding efforts.
3. How would you describe your experience as a SFA attendee at the meeting?
Annika: Attending the ISAPP meeting as an SFA was an outstanding experience. I truly appreciate the conference’s dedication to promoting student development through this group. Attending as an SFA allowed me to connect with inspiring students and engage directly with distinguished experts in the field.
Olalekan: Attending the ISAPP meeting as a SFA attendee was full of memorable moments such as the insightful sessions where cutting-edge research in probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotic and postbiotics were presented and discussed. My experience also included meeting fellow researchers, academics, and professionals in the field to exchange ideas which promises to further establish future collaboration.
“Attending the ISAPP meeting as a SFA attendee was full of memorable moments”
4. How do you plan to apply the insights and knowledge gained from the ISAPP meeting to your work?
Annika: The insights and knowledge gained from the ISAPP meeting were influential and helped me grow as a scientist. It was great to hear about emerging techniques and methods to improve our knowledge of the field. Moreover, the connections created with researchers from diverse backgrounds sparked ideas for potential collaborations and influenced my career aspirations.
Olalekan: I will begin by going over and considering the notes, presentations, and materials that I collected during the meeting in order to pinpoint the most important lessons and insights that apply to my research. Next, I will apply the new knowledge and approaches I gained from the meeting to my research projects where required. Finally, I will keep in touch with the people I met in order to express my interest in postdoctoral fellowships or possible collaborations.
5. What advice would you give someone attending their first ISAPP-SFA meeting?
Annika: My advice would be to approach the experience with curiosity and openness. Take advantage of opportunities to engage with fellow SFAs and professionals in the field between talks and at the evening network sessions, as these interactions can offer valuable insights and potential collaborations. Also, don’t hesitate to ask questions and actively participate in discussions. In general, embrace the opportunity to learn, network, and grow professionally.
Olalekan: ISAPP-SFA meetings can be exhilarating as well as perhaps daunting. I would advise new attendees to study the conference schedule ahead of time and give priority to discussion groups that align with their primary research interests, especially the SFA discussion group. New attendees should seize the chance to actively participate in group discussions and network with other attendees in order to enhance their overall conference experience.
