A Strong Start

The FEBS Education Training Conference 2024 was my first experience of an international conference. I was fortunate to be awarded a grant to attend the conference from the FEBS Education Committee to help cover the cost of registration, accommodation and travel. I arrived in the beautiful region of Antalya, Türkiye with much anticipation, eagerness and good helping of nerves. My current role is an unusual one; I work as a part-time Teaching Associate and a part-time PhD student, both in the School of Biosciences at Cardiff University, UK, so I have a foot in both the academic and student worlds. Being a particularly ‘early’, early-career researcher, I was unsure how I would fit in with the exceptional researchers and educators attending the conference. However, I was welcomed (quite literally) with open arms by Ferhan Sagin and was immediately made to feel at ease.

The hotel itself was spectacular, with opulent reception areas, well-tended gardens, perfect for a short walk, and large dining rooms in which to gather and ruminate on the day’s proceedings. The food was delicious and plentiful; there was certainly no risk of going hungry! I was glad I had packed trousers with an elasticated waistband!

A Wealth of Expertise

The opening ceremony made me feel like I was at a movie premiere, with upbeat music, dramatic stage lighting and rousing applause – what a way to kick off the inaugural FEBS ETC!

The conference programme was packed full of interesting and informative lectures, workshops, panel discussions, short presentations and poster displays. I particularly appreciated Leanne Williams, University of Warwick UK, who presented the factors which empower students for a successful transition into university, of which making friends and fitting in was crucial, and Boris Jokic, Institute for Social Research Croatia, who discussed our uneasy relationship with digital technology and the importance of teaching resilience and grit. A particularly poignant speaker was Marco A. de Carvalho Filho, who gave a thought-provoking presentation on the role of the arts to nurture reflective practices and a plenary lecture highlighting the importance of building diverse communities, embracing joy, welcoming newcomers, and avoiding the constraints of unsupportive voices.

In addition to engaging with numerous lectures, I was fortunate to gain a place on one of the FEBS Education and Training certified workshops, ‘Bridging Science and Teaching: Active Learning Strategies for Molecular Life Scientists’ by Manuel João Costa and Ali Burak Özkaya. This workshop took place over three days and focussed on evidence-driven practices to engage students in effective active learning and involved many lively discussions. The workshop series culminated in us producing and sharing individualised transformation plans for our own courses. This plan was fundamental in supporting me to enhance my own teaching and I continue to look back through my notes from the workshop when I need some inspiration.

Taking to the Stage

I was selected to give a short presentation based on my initial PhD research titled ‘Teaching Methods and Scientific Sources: Bioscience students’ perspectives’. I was nervous at the thought of sharing my own research with such a large group of internationally renowned academics, and as I walked onto the stage, I had to remind myself to take a deep breath. However, I needn’t have worried. My presentation went to plan, and I manged to keep to time…just! The real impact for me personally, came during the question time, where I was delighted to receive many questions from the audience, including one question which inspired me to undertake further research into the difference between students’ perception of learning and their actual learning.

A Cultured Afternoon

Of course, it would be remiss to visit this beautiful, historic area of Türkiye without taking a little time out to appreciate the culture. We took a group trip to the Roman theatre of Aspendos where we revelled in the impressive architecture and made sure to reach our step-count goals by climbing up to the top! We also took time to stroll around the coastal city of Side and take in the ruins.

A Long-Lasting Impact

As the conference drew to a close, with an equally impressive closing ceremony, my head was full of ideas to take home with me. The impact of this experience was far-reaching, it not only gave me the chance to connect with a global community of educators and explore novel and established ideas in bioscience education, but it also provided the perfect setting to grow my confidence as an early-career researcher.

What truly makes this conference special is its welcoming, enthusiastic community - people who encourage you to speak up and will celebrate your contributions with you in the bar afterwards! My FEBS notebook was brimming with hastily written notes from inspiring presentations, and I knew that this was a conference that I would never forget.

What next? FEBS ETC 2026 of course!

If this conference sounds like something you would enjoy, I urge you to mark 25^th – 29^th March 2026 in your calendar because I cannot recommend the FEBS ETC 2026 enough. The programme is already shaping up to be spectacular, and packed with unique presentations, engaging debates, and certified FEBS academy workshops, including a series hosted my myself, Steve Rutherford and Hasan Kazdağli on Student Focussed Assessment and Feedback. Up to date information, including the call for abstracts, accommodation details and available grants can be found at https://febsetc.org/. I look forward to seeing you there!