International congress brings state-of-the-art research in biophysics and biochemistry
With an extended application deadline, the virtual event offers fellowships and prizes for young scientists
07/05/2021
Biophysicists and biochemists from around the world will meet at the 20th Congress of the International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics (IUPAB), which will be held in virtual format from 4th and 8th of October 2021, together with the 50th Annual Meeting of the Brazilian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SBBq), and the 45th Annual Meeting of the Brazilian Biophysics Society (SBBf).
“This is an important congress because it will bring together international biophysics, Brazilian biophysics united with the Latin American one, and also the Brazilian biochemistry congress, which is a very strong community. We brought in scientists who are working on the frontier, in the state of the art, both in biophysics and biochemistry, which are areas of knowledge that complement each other”, said Rosangela Itri, a professor at the São Paulo University (USP) Physics Institute, and chair of the congress with professor Mauricio S. Baptista, from the Institute of Chemistry at USP.
A high point of the congress is the quality of the program, with the participation of speakers from 24 countries, representing the world scientific scene in biochemistry and biophysics. “The main criterion for choosing the speakers was to bring international leaders in their respective areas. But, also, we invited biophysicists and biochemists equally, and, geographically, we sought to invite scientists who represented the world scenario”, said Baptista. Ten keynote speakers, two of them winners of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry - Michael Levitt (2013) and Richard Henderson (2017) - and 24 symposia, with more than 80 speakers, will cover a wide range of research topics. The program includes lectures, symposia, courses, discussion groups, and poster sessions.
Congress participants will have the opportunity to discuss the issue “Gender in Science”, which will be a symposium theme, reflecting the organizers' concern with gender balance in the event. Another novelty will be the presentation of some lectures sponsored by companies.
To make possible a virtual congress of this size, the chairs contracted the most advanced platform for virtual conferences, which, according to Baptista, will allow the best interactive experience during the event. "Furthermore, our congress fair, SBBqExpo, is very strong, many companies are joining us and we are working to provide a very positive experience on this platform.”
All abstracts presented at the congress will be published in a special issue of the journal Biophysics Reviews, scheduled for December this year, which will also feature review articles written by the main speakers.
Young scientists
Activities aimed at young scientists have already started: a webinar series - The YS Webinar Series - has been held since May, with participants from 14 countries on five continents. The webinars take place every 15 days until September, with lectures by senior scientists, post-docs, and doctoral students. Participants are exempt from the congress registration fee, and they will also present their work at the congress.
In addition to interacting with scientists from around the world, the researchers participating in the congress will have the opportunity to present their work and compete for prizes.
During the congress, the 24th Young Talent Award in Life Sciences, for young scientists from Latin American countries, will be held. The award is promoted by SBBq and Cytiva. In addition to the cash prize, the winner receives a flight ticket to attend an international congress of their choice, and an invitation for an oral presentation at the next SBBq Meeting. Applications until 07/30/2021. Besides, there will be poster awards at the congress.
Researchers from all over the world can also apply until July 20th for IUPAB fellowships that cover the registration fee. The SBBf will also offer Brazilian biophysicists fellowships that cover the fee.
The deadline for early registration with abstract was extended to 07/26/2021. For more information and registration, visit http://iupab2020.sbbq.org.br
