Science for scientists by scientists
Inaugural event – The EMBO Meeting 2009

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not ‘Eureka!’ (I found it!) but ‘That’s funny...’ Isaac Asimov

Some of our readers may recall, or perhaps have heard about, the annual EMBO Symposia organised from the mid-seventies until the early nineties. The first three were held close to Heidelberg at Hirschhorn while later on symposia were in Heidelberg.

EMBO is re-igniting this tradition of providing a general forum for scientific exchange. The fusion of ELSO into EMBO later this year offers the opportunity to hold an annual life sciences conference, just as ELSO has done since 2001. Planning is well and truly underway for the inaugural event – The EMBO Meeting 2009 – from 29 August to 1 September in Amsterdam.

Bringing together researchers from Europe and all over the world, EMBO plans to attract presentations of the latest results in life science research. Scientists still early in their career will meet the major players across numerous life science areas as well as learn of the many EMBO offerings that empower them to advance European science.
EMBO Members, Hans Clevers and Steve West, are co-chairs of the event. They are putting together a stimulating scientific programme for the conference. Participants can expect to hear from leaders in their fields in the keynote addresses and plenary sessions. Concurrent sessions will offer options to hear the latest research on a number of topics. Special lecturers will include the 2009 EMBO Gold Medal winner. More guest lectures are planned from scientists working outside of the life sciences as well as in the field of science.

Science & Society and Women in Science sessions plus career activities and nonscientific skill training are also on the agenda. Student poster presentations will continue as a key activity amongst the industry exhibits, just as they have been at former ELSO meetings. And EMBO editors will dispel any mystery associated with scientific publishing.
Keep an eye on the EMBO website over the coming months for the exciting launch of The EMBO Meeting 2009. And perhaps you might hear the phrase ‘that’s funny…’ uttered more than once in Amsterdam next year as new research ideas are seeded.

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