Published: 23 Nov 2016
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Firstly I would like to thank the Italian Pharmacological Society for giving me an opportunity to be part of the 19th Società Italiana di Farmacologia (SIF) Seminar Rimini event on pharmacology and similar sciences. At a time when many research communities around the globe are facing difficult challenges it is essential that the value and power of education, development and research are not overlooked. The 19th SIF Seminar Rimini event was a well organised and highly successful meeting that attracted a large number of talented young researchers, who are at the beginning of their scientific careers.
There was a wide variety of topics, such as inflammation, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, pharmacovigilance, pharmacogenetics, neuroscience, metabolic and cancer. The plenary “Meet the editor” lecture, delivered by the British Journal of Pharmacology Editor-in-Chief, Amrita Ahluwalia, was particularly interesting, raising many critical points about publishing one’s research. Such an international approach to networking brought the most diverse researchers of the pharmacological field together to share their experiences and to broaden their views. For me this event provided an excellent opportunity to get more experience in presenting my research and to get valuable feedback.
It was the first time I had presented an oral presentation about my work on protein tyrosine phosphatases of the R3 subgroup outside my University. I wanted to present my data to a wider audience in order to get any comments that would help me in my approaching viva. Despite the intense programme and a vast amount of new information, this event had a pleasant and relaxed feel since the majority of researchers were at the PhD and Postdoctoral level and could present their work without feeling intimidated by senior researchers. I personally gained so much from this event as it helped me to improve my presentation and communication skills and broaden my knowledge of the field of pharmacology.
As a PhD student at the write-up stage it is very easy to isolate oneself from everything and lose track of other research areas. I even started to doubt the importance of my project and to lose interest in doing research in the future. However, attending the 19th SIF Seminar Rimini event reminded me why I chose science in the first place and that I actually love what I do. I was always fascinated by human physiology and I think I owe it to my mother who is an anaesthetist. As a child I used to go to the hospital after school to wait for her to finish her work and would always ask about different medications. It was such a fascinating thing that such a tiny pill could help so many people. I wanted to know how it all works. Since then it has been a very long and tough journey. That is why I believe it is important to go to such events and see what great things we all do. Hearing what other speakers have done motivated me to carry on and to look at my research in a different way. I was particularly moved by the lecture on “Tumour Plasticity” by the director of the Wistar Institute Cancer Centre in Philadelphia, Dario Altieri.
This event was a great opportunity to meet new, like-minded people who share similar interests. Making new connections could prove valuable in the future. As a young researcher one is constantly told about the importance of networking and being at the 19th SIF Seminar Rimini event helped me to learn how research is done in different countries. I found it very useful to exchange ideas with people working in a similar field. It is also a good way to keep up to date with the latest research, new compounds and any changes that are occurring in the field of pharmacology.
Of course the event was not just about learning. The social part of this event was great fun and I met a lot of interesting people. The informal sessions, such as coffee and lunch breaks, of the event encouraged mingling and further discussion, not only about pharmacology but also about different cultures, backgrounds, hobbies and other key personal elements that shape us into a diverse, vibrant scientific community. The evenings were filled with amazing food, music and a relaxing welcoming atmosphere. Creating a network of like-minded and enthusiastic friends will hopefully result in a positive impact in our future careers and opportunities. Together we can become highly skilled professionals, drive growth and productivity of pharmacological research and transform lives!
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