FENS2022 Forum - JNS-FENS Travel Award 2022
[July 9th – July 13th, 2022]
Travel Awardee Review
Ms. Madhura Subba Rao
Ph.D. Student, Mizuno Lab, IRCMS, Kumamoto University, JapanI have always loved talking and doing great science and it gives me immense pleasure to pin down myincredible experience and buzz of excitement in the neuroscience community at my first international
conference which was held in Paris, France in July 2022. It was an intense 5-day program comprisinginteresting brain debates, award lectures, workshops, special interest events, and my absolute favorite
networking events. It was a wonderful opportunity for networking and meeting brilliant minds inneuroscience. A big shout-out to my supervisor who has been very kind and supportive of my circumstances
and a big thanks to all the organizers of FENS2022. I am extremely grateful to The Japan Neuroscience
Society for giving me this travel grant and making it possible for me to present my poster at this conference
despite the horrors and uncertainty of Japan’s strict border measures due to the ongoing covid crisis as well
as visa needs.

FENS Forum 2022 Paris Convention Centre

The conference FENS2022 Forum: Europe's largest international neuroscience conference
kickstarted with a massive impression. The president of the FENS, Dr. Jean Antoine Girault welcomed about
7000+ participants to one of the biggest neuroscience forum, #FENS2022! The grand opening ceremony
with music, band orchestra, and dance performances, the main highlight of the conference, where thousandsof neuroscientists from all across the world came together, and dancing altogether was a very thrilling
experience. I got amazing feedback for my poster presentation and people were genuinely interested andwere giving me tips and suggestions. Some of my lab’s collaborators and Professors whom we followedcame to my poster. I had the honour to meet the Nobel Laureate Prof. Eric Kendal with whom I got a chance
to meet and greet at the Eric Kandel Prize Lecture & Scientific Award Ceremony of Julijana Gjorgijeva.
Another engrossing event that I attended was the Colours of the Brain bow: from ethnic diversity to global
inclusion in European Neuroscience - an ALBA-FKNE-YIBRO event alongside networking off-site dinnerat Café Noisette. I was so happy to get a chance to talk to young PIs in person while sipping some authentic
French wine. We discussed the respective research projects, the work-life system in different regions ofEurope as well as from other countries, lab life, etc. It was a much-needed interactive session to also learn
about how each of their labs and careers grew despite the pandemic situation. We also discussed bestpractices to counteract bias, recognizing outstanding scientific and diversity contributions. Additionally,networking and mentoring opportunities to promote careers for members of underrepresented groups.
Another interesting networking event that I attended was the ALBA-WWN-IBRO Mentoring Circle:
Leadership and Diversity at Every Step of the Journey where I got to meet the IBRO director Dr. Lars
Kristiansen in person who shared a great sense of humour. He spoke about how IBRO’s funding
opportunities, grants, etc are trying to reach out to as many underdeveloped countries and seek to provide an
opportunity to many students who are capable of doing a great contribution to science.

Left to Right: Poster Presentation at FENS2022, Picture with the Nobel Laureate Prof. Eric Kandel, and Selfie
with the IBRO Director Dr. Lars Kristiansen

I also enjoyed the Jump the Fens Party which was organized by FENS under the beautiful Le Bridgein Paris. It was super fun and exciting to have a vibrant party gathering post-pandemic situation. It was also
great catching up with my friends from my previous institutions back in India. Although, some of my friends
were missing hopefully we all get to meet each other at some point as growing neuroscientists in theupcoming future. Enjoyed the conference, parties, Paris city, and popular sightseeing places with them withamazing learnings, tons of experiences, and unforgettable memories!

Left: Jump the Fens Party, Middle: Paris City Tour, Right: Sunset alongside Paris Seine River

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris (Sacre-Coeur Basilica)

Eiffel Tower View during Daytime and Midnight