Society Champions at FEMS
Posted on September 26, 2019 by Winnie Lee
Each year, the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) host a Congress, with over 2700 delegates from 90 countries attending. In July, Microbiology Society Champion Winnie Lee attended the FEMS Congress in Glasgow. Here, she details her experience.
The FEMS Congress attracts researchers from around the world, providing the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with scientists from different countries. These opportunities are highly relevant to my current Masters of Research work, which involves examining how Salmonella infections and resistance are transmitted internationally. As a Microbiology Society Champion, I had the privilege of presenting my MRes work at FEMS in addition to representing the Society and raising awareness regarding the benefits of becoming a Champion.
Having not attended the Congress before, I felt a rush of excitement as I approached the venue. Upon arrival, I headed off to the opening ceremony which included two plenary, keynote lectures. Once these were finished, I headed back into the main hall to meet the Microbiology Society staff to help set up the stand and discuss my duties throughout my time at the conference. This was followed by a drink reception, which enabled me to introduce myself to other early career microbiologists I’ve not met before and touch upon the values of becoming a Champion for the Society.
As each day passed at the conference, it was inspiring to see so many young scientists eager to seek further information regarding the Microbiology Society and the many ways to get involved. It was my pleasure to share my experiences as a current member of the Microbiology Society. I was also happy to meet people asking questions about the roles of a Champion and how it could benefit them. There were many other exhibitors at FEMS, including the Microbiology Society, and helping out on the stand was a fantastic experience for me, as I gained insight into working at conferences in addition to enhancing my professional development. Having Microbiology Society staff present with me at the stand meant I could observe their approach of communication with researchers, which in turn improved my communication and networking skills. Moreover, I learned more about publishing with the Society journals and developed my understanding of the process behind this. It is fantastic to see the number of journals that are run by the Microbiology Society; I did not realise there were so many!
At FEMS I was fortunate to be able to present my MRes work in the form of a poster. This was a brilliant opportunity for me to network with other researchers in a similar research area to me. After the poster session, I was left motivated; my mind filled with recommendations of scientific literature to read and new ideas to apply to my research. It was a great experience for me to further develop the different types of communication involved in both poster presentations and promoting the Society to the scientific community.
Overall, attending FEMS as a Microbiology Society Champion has been an invaluable experience. Not only have I improved my scientific research and development, but I was able to network, expand my connections and improve my personal presentation skills. As a Microbiology Society Champion, I experienced the best of both worlds. I would encourage anyone to become a Champion; the support and the opportunities Microbiology Society provide you with are phenomenal. You are able to work in different locations, participate in a variety of events and be at the forefront of networking. Being a Champion has definitely improved my confidence through speaking with different people, ranging from undergraduate students to professors. I look forward to the opportunities I will have as a Society Champion in the future!
