Sheyda Shapouri and João Gil Gomes Ferreira | the 10th International Workshop on the Biology of Fish GametesFrom the 11th to the 14th of October, I got to attend the 10th International Workshop on the Biology of Fish Gametes in Balatonalmádi, Hungary; my first conference, first conference presentation, and first time in Hungary! I had a lot of fun reconnecting with fellow Cryostore DCs Mafalda and Joao, seeing people from other labs and institutes I originally met while doing my secondments there, and of course meeting new friends.
Listening to the other presentations and seeing everyone’s posters was also an interesting and refreshing look into how expansive and exhaustive the world of fish reproduction is, and it was truly inspiring to see so many other people who have also dedicated their careers to understanding fish biology.
I also was lucky enough to have a number of fascinating discussions after presenting the work I had done with people who knew a whole lot more about this subject than me, which is always a welcome opportunity! I got given some interesting new leads to follow up on and perspectives on our topic of study that I hadn’t thought about previously, and now that I’m back to work I’m excited to see where following up on these new leads takes me!
- CryoStore Doctoral Candidate Sheyda Shapouri
Research can sometimes feel like a rather isolated process. Between planning experiments, troubleshooting protocols, and trying to understand unexpected results, it is easy to become so focused on your own work that you forget how much is happening outside your laboratory. Attending the 10th International Workshop on the Biology of Fish Gametes, held from October 11th to 14th in Balatonalmádi, Hungary, was a welcome opportunity to change that perspective.
I had the opportunity to present a poster entitled “ESTABLISHMENT OF A 3D TESTICULAR ORGANOID SYSTEM USING AGGREWELL AS A NOVEL TOOL TO STUDY SPERMATOGENESIS IN FISH.” My research focuses on developing three-dimensional testicular culture systems that could help us better understand the cellular interactions involved in sperm production. As someone who has spent a considerable amount of time establishing and troubleshooting these cultures, presenting the work was particularly meaningful. It was an opportunity not only to share what I had achieved but also to discuss the limitations, unanswered questions, and future possibilities of this approach.
What I found particularly valuable about the conference was the diversity of scientific perspectives. Researchers working on different species, experimental models, and reproductive technologies often face surprisingly similar biological challenges. Seeing how others approach these problems encouraged me to reflect on my own research and consider questions that might otherwise have remained unexplored.
I left Hungary with plenty to think about, both regarding the future direction of my organoid research and the broader possibilities of reproductive biotechnology. If there is one thing I took away from the experience, it is that sometimes the most useful thing you can do for your research is to step away from the bench and see how others are approaching the same questions.
- CrypoStore Doctoral Candidate João Gil Gomes Ferreira
Below are some fun pictures from the gala dinner.
