Conference: Joint NSO-GfÖ Conference in Odense

Guest post by MSc student Inês de Romariz Carvalho Loureiro Martins

Attending a scientific conference is always a good opportunity to gain new perspectives on your field of study, engage with current research and experience science as a shared, ongoing process. For me, attending the Joint Nordic Society Oikos (NSO) and Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland (Gesellschaft für Ökologie – GfÖ) Conference in my current home city in Odense was particularly meaningful, as I had the chance to not only participate as a biology student but also contribute as a volunteer!

Meeting and listening to researchers share their findings, methods and challenges reinforced how broad and diverse the ecology field is, offering space to exchange ideas and providing me with insights about different ecological questions. Presentations about vertical greening systems, adaptability of algae, biodiversity, eDNA in microhabitats… were some of the topics that caught my attention and made me reflect on my own path and development as a student and young researcher.

I had the opportunity to volunteer and be involved in the conference organisation, which allowed me to experience everything from a different point of view. It was yet again another moment to develop skills beyond my academic path, but for the first time not in my home country and in a big scale with approximately 1 000 participants! All the teamwork involved packing delegate bags and the preparation required for the welcome reception at Syddansk Universitet – University of Southern Denmark (SDU), bringing together researchers from different countries for this event and creating a good environment where scientific exchange could happen, was essential.

As a Master's student currently writing my thesis, I found these days helpful to decompress and socialise, because research can sometimes feel like a very individual process, especially when focusing on a specific project or topic for a long time. Being surrounded by a wide ecological community was a reminder that our work contributes to a much larger effort.

Participating in the Joint NSO-GfÖ Conference 2026 was a valuable experience both academically and personally. It allowed me to discover new research fields, exchange ideas and network within this community.I left the conference with a renewed appreciation for the collective effort behind scientific research. Experiences like this are good reminders that learning as a biologist extends far beyond lectures and laboratory work, but it also happens through curiosity and active participation.