Montpellier is a stupendous metropolis positioned within the south of France, located solely 10km away from the Mediterranean Sea. Town affords a wealthy mix of over a thousand years of historical past and tradition, in addition to trendy allure. Montpellier is residence to gorgeous medieval structure and energetic markets, and throughout the week of the 14th of October 2024, Montpellier grew to become the house to the twenty third European Society of Vector Ecology (ESOVE) convention – its second internet hosting of the convention inside 12 years. With a packed four-day schedule that included 4 keynote audio system, seven thematic periods and virtually 200 posters, the ESOVE convention coated a variety of attention-grabbing subjects regarding vector ecology.
Since, being a 2nd 12 months PhD pupil, this was my first worldwide convention, I used to be very not sure of what to anticipate. Arriving in torrential rain to rival Glasgow’s helped me really feel instantly at residence, and my nerves have been quickly calmed by the pleasant and welcoming nature of town. This sentiment was mirrored within the opening addresses from the convention organising workforce as they acknowledged the significance of working collectively to kind a One Well being method below the challenges of worldwide change. Our first keynote speaker, Cindy Morris, took the stage shortly after, the place she delivered a captivating discuss on the often-overlooked matter of plant well being and its significance for One Well being. This set the stage for the primary oral presentation session on integrative taxonomy and evolution. As a biologist who prefers to be within the discipline quite than the lab, a genomics-heavy session like this on a Monday morning would usually make my head harm. Nonetheless, the talks on genetics maintained my curiosity all through the entire session, due to the participating audio system and displays that coated a variety of various vector species.
After this unbelievable begin, the second session on vector ecology and biology took me to extra acquainted territory. 9 audio system introduced fascinating analysis on key vectors like midges, mosquitoes and ticks and the way their interactions with the atmosphere are shaping future illness dangers. Following this was the primary of two formal poster periods, the place I rigorously noticed the crowd-attracting methods of the post-doc subsequent to me, prepared imitate his strategies the next day. A welcome cocktail introduced the primary day to a relaxed finish, providing one other probability to mingle and make new connections over scrumptious Mediterranean meals and wine. The following couple of days adopted an analogous format, with a morning keynote adopted by two periods of oral displays. A spotlight for me was a keynote on the ultimate day from the College of Glasgow’s and Ifakara Well being Institute’s personal Fredros Okumu. Fredros is a superb science communicator and delivered a tremendous discuss on the ecology of key African malaria vectors, emphasising the significance of constant to innovate new methods for vector management. This then set the stage properly for the ultimate session, which centered on community-based surveillance and administration of vector-borne ailments.
The vary of fantastic talks throughout the 4 days had one main competitor: the vary of fantastic meals. Each day provided alternatives to samples the delights of French delicacies. The culinary journey started throughout the first interlude between the morning periods, which offered the primary alternative to refuel and socialise. Espresso, tea and contemporary pastries have been accessible in abundance within the poster corridor, with the refreshment stations enjoying a key supporting function in my networking technique. Lunch was a very fulfilling interval; an hour of seemingly infinite scrumptious hors d’oeuvres (together with some uncommon however quintessentially French dishes like goats cheese macarons and foie gras crème brûlée), an enormous cheeseboard, and a choice of delectable desserts
The spotlight of the culinary expertise was the convention dinner on Wednesday, which befell on the Abbey of Valmagne, round 40km away from Montpellier. Previous to the dinner, we have been in a position to take part in a alternative of actions resembling a tour of the abbey, walks across the medieval gardens, or the common favorite, a wine workshop, the place contributors might strive their hand at being a sommelier. The convention dinner befell in a big banquet corridor, the place delegates have been supplied with a scrumptious three-course meal and loads of alternative to mingle, dance and kind new networking connections.
Regardless of the scale and scope of ESOVE, the relaxed ambiance and the friendliness of the opposite delegates meant that my first worldwide convention expertise was fulfilling quite than overwhelming. Between the unimaginable analysis, the networking alternatives and the wonderful meals, my expectations for conferences have been set very excessive. I left ESOVE on Thursday afternoon with social media full of new connections, a head full of new information and a stomach full of beautiful meals.
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This text was written by Meshach Lee, a 2nd 12 months PhD pupil on the College of Glasgow learning the ecology of mosquito vectors in Scotland with the Mosquito Scotland venture.
Edited by Dr Georgia Kirby.
