Our second SmartAge Network Meeting, but our first face-to-face meeting at all, took place from 08 - 10 September 2022 in Jena. After working on this project for two years, everyone was finally able to meet in person, to get to know each other, to exchange ideas and to have a great time together. On the first day we gathered at the location around noon for registration. After a nice lunch, Professor Witte welcomed everyone and gave a coordinator’s report. Then Jeremy Burton, who flew in from Canada and is part of our External Advisory Board, started with the first keynote lecture about “Improving our understand of the systemic effects of the microbiota”. Following this, we had interesting presentations from our beneficiaries and finally a first poster session, where half of our SmartAge ESRs presented their project results. The Thursday evening was rounded off with a tasty dinner in the restaurant Kardamom at Steigenberger Esplanade Jena.
On Friday, we started a bit earlier and so Jane Foster, who flew in from the U.S. and is also a member of our external advisory board, began the second day at 9 a.m. with the keynote lecture on “Microbes and Mental Health: Translating preclinical findings to the clinic”. Subsequently, Trynke de Jong from our partner organization Lifelines then gave an insight into the work they do. Following this, we had again presentations from our beneficiaries. After lunch, we continued with the second ESR poster session, but that was not all, because last but not least there were another reports on the progress of our work packages. In the evening there was a nice hike up to Restaurant Landgrafen (with a few, 650 steps ;D), where we had a delicious buffet dinner with a fantastic view and at the end an adventurous descent.
On Saturday, some were able to stay in bed longer, as the day began with the Supervisory Board meeting for Supervisory Board members and external Advisory Board members only. Various topics and further program planning for the overall project were discussed. Hereafter, we had time for networking and discussions. People sat together and planned their upcoming secondments, got in touch with their co-supervisor, talked to our external advisory board members and representatives of our partner organizations, and arranged upcoming events or seminars. Finally, Prof. Witte gave a brief outlook and some concluding remarks and we enjoyed a last lunch together.
It was a pleasure to meet everyone and we thank everyone for coming, for the great talks and posters, for discussions and suggestions and the warm atmosphere. We are already looking forward to our third SmartAge Network Meeting, which will take place next year in Wageningen/Netherlands.
Here you can find some more impressios: presentations - poster sessions - SmartAge ESRs - walk to Landgrafen restaurant