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About ELSO
This is an exciting time to be a biologist. The molecular basis of cell
function is being discovered at an ever-increasing pace, the roles of specific
cells in creating tissues and systems are beginning to be understood, and so the
barriers between the traditional disciplines are disappearing. Now biochemists,
cell biologists, developmental biologists, geneticists, immunologists,
microbiologists, molecular biologists, neurobiologists, and pharmacologists are
all using the same molecular tools and speaking the same scientific language.
ELSO – the European Life Scientist Organization – was founded in 1999 to capture
the excitement of these rapid advances and to share them with molecular life
scientists across Europe. One of its main roles is to organize an annual
congress on European soil that provides a high-profile international forum for
the field. We have held five of these meetings: in Geneva (September 2000), Nice
(June–July 2002 and September 2004) and Dresden (September 2003 and September
2005). They have been extremely successful, drawing up to 2,000 participants
including a large number of young researchers. About 40% of the participants at
the ELSO meetings are PhD students! The speakers are always the best in their
field internationally and the poster sessions are buzzing. What’s more, our
large scientific product exhibition has becoming the prime opportunity for the
scientific supply industry to present its products and services to the European
life science community.
The next ELSO meeting is planned for 1–4 September 2007 in Dresden. Future
meetings will be in Nice (September 2008), Amsterdam (September 2009 and 2011)
and Dresden (September 2010). Note these dates in you calendar!! This is one
annual event that you should not miss. With the start of the European Research
Council in 2007, it’s going to be even more crucial to step across the
boundaries between countries and disciplines and meet your European scientific
colleagues. You will need to communicate to be part of this important new
funding initiative!!!!
ELSO played an active role in promoting the European Research Council initiative
by running an effective online petition, lobbying national and European
governments and participating in formative discussions. ELSO will continue to
play an active role in shaping European research policy for the molecular life
sciences. Through its Career Development Committee, it is also trying, on behalf
of Europe’s young researchers, to improve career opportunities. ELSO is now
working to initiate a credible career structure for young investigators in
Europe through the introduction of a tenure track system for academic scientists.
And we have created an online Database of Expert Women to help to improve the
visibility of Europe’s excellent women molecular life scientists.
You can find out more about ELSO and its activities through these web pages and
through the ELSO newsletter, which is available here as a pdf and is also
distributed in partnership with the new magazine Lab Times.
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