At its heart, this conference is all about providing a platform for the next generation of scientists. The day included talks and poster sessions led by PhD students and postdocs, whose contributions were truly at the heart of the event. The variety of their research was impressive: we explored tissue-level studies detailing the cellular mechanics behind collective cell migration, which contrasted beautifully with molecular-focused presentations on transcription factors and cell fate specification. Seeing peers present such high-quality work was inspiring and sparked many lively discussions.<\/span><\/p>\n To honour this hard work, awards were presented to the top three posters and talks. A particular highlight was the presentation of the commemorative medal to the best speaker. We award this medal every year because we believe that recognising a young researcher right at the start of their journey is an incredible, career-boosting opportunity. The day also featured a stunning image competition, which highlighted the visual beauty of developmental biology across different imaging modalities. The winning entry will be featured on next year’s conference materials!<\/span><\/p>\n While early career researchers took centre stage, we also had the opportunity to learn from established pioneers. Two international group leaders (Diana Pinheiro (IMP, Vienna) and Christopher Thomas (Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille)) presented the technical advancements that are driving the field forward, and the Sammy Lee Memorial Lecture provided valuable insight into the true impact of our research. Dr Kay Elder (Cambridge) gave a moving overview of the history of IVF treatment, reminding us of the challenges and successes behind reproductive science.<\/span><\/p>\n
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