Marie Curie Researchers Symposium
Two IRMED Fellows presented their poster at the Marie Curie Researchers Symposium that was held on the 25th and 27th September 2011 in Warsaw, Poland. Dr Paolo Bonomi’s poster was entitled: Poster: “Aldolase Nanogels versus organocatalyst: studies of reactivity and mechanism” Judith Ray poster: Poster: “Synthesis and Characterisation of nanoparticles for drug delivery” Judith Ray tells us about her experience at the Symposium: At this event which celebrated the 15th Anniversary of Marie Curie Actions, Fellows were given very inspirational talks by many important individuals connected to the Marie Curie fund and Poland itself. These talks reinforced the motto of the conference Passion, Mission and Responsibilities. Fellows were also given some moving presentations by past and present Marie curie funded fellows whose lives had benefited in many ways by being awarded the fellowships. One incredible story was given by Tomasz Tasiemski who was a keen and talented skier until he had a fall which left him with a Spinal cord injury (SCI) and permanently wheel chair bound. It was this event which inspired him to do research, which was funded by Marie curie actions, into the life of people post a SCI. In his research he has discovered how sports vitally improve SCI sufferers’ lives not just physically but mentally and financially too. He has untaken his research thought the world including third world countries and really makes a difference to people’s lives. The entire audience was captivated and moved by his talk and he is still a keen sportsman himself, showing a picture of him in his wheelchair on skis at the end of his presentation! They also saw the importance of outreach projects and the benefits it has both to the researcher sharing their passion and the benefits to next generation who can be motivated to continue in a scientific career. During the conference a sightseeing tour of Warsaw was laid on, along with a piano concert of Fryderyk Chopin’s works, both of which were very interesting. The tour guide was very enthusiastic about her country and showed us how the Poles had rebuilt their city after it was destroyed in World War II, and how the city has developed and risen particularly in the last decade or so. What struck me was her passion and her pride in her country. Fellows were also given the opportunity to explore the Copernicus Science Centre where they had so many hands on scientific games and activities for children to do it was brilliant, there wasn’t an adult there that wasn’t having a fantastic time! The centre was absolutely fantastic and would inspire any child to peruse a career in science, every country should have one! As you can see Paolo enjoyed a brief nap lying on a bed of nails! This conference was extremely well organised and was truly inspirational to all the young researchers there, I know everyone left with great passion for science and really saw the collective difference we do and can make by working in science. I left Warsaw with a great appreciation for the opportunities I have been given through Marie Curie Actions and Dr Resmini’s networks and with a want to share these possibilities with the next generation and to show them the fantastic opportunities that could be given to them if they just open their mind to them. I also entered the symposium contest “Promoting science: let’s be innovative!” and won an honorary award for her paper “Could you be the next AVERAGE JOE”.