New for Annual Conference 2018 – Early Career Co-chairing Scheme
17 October 2017
The Early Career Microbiologists’ (ECM) Forum Executive Committee are delighted to announce the Annual Conference Co-chairing Scheme to involve ECM members in Annual Conference sessions.
Originally piloted at Annual Conference 2017, the full roll-out of the scheme will allow any ECM Forum member to apply to co-chair a session at Annual Conference 2018. This initiative will give ECM Forum members the opportunity to gain experience in chairing a session at a world-class conference.
Applications to the scheme will be reviewed by the Society’s Divisions. Members who are selected to take part will be paired with a session organiser who will show them how a session is chaired and invite them to participate fully in the organisation of the session. At the end of the partnership, it is hoped that the ECM Co-Chairs will have a clear idea of what is required when chairing a conference session.
Dr Bryan Wee, an ECM Forum member who participated in the pilot scheme in 2017 said, “The Co-chairing Scheme at the Annual Conference gave me the opportunity to interact with several eminent researchers in my field. This has led to collaborations that made a positive impact on my career.”
ECM Forum members can apply for this professional development opportunity when submitting an abstract via Oxford Abstracts. The abstract submission deadline is 11 December 2017.
The Microbiology Society’s Annual Conference 2018 will be held at the International Conference Centre, Birmingham, UK, from Tuesday 10 April to Friday 13 April. Visit the Annual Conference event pages to view our extensive programme, find out how to register and how to submit an abstract.
Find out more about the ECM Forum and how to join.
Image: Ian Atherton.
