16-ISABC · Ioannina 2023

Networking Breakfast at ISABC 2023: Building Bridges with Senior Researchers

The Networking Breakfast at the 16th International Symposium on Applied Bioinorganic Chemistry offers more than coffee and pastries before the first plenary session. It is a deliberately structured window where early career researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and PhD candidates can share a table with established principal investigators whose work has shaped the field. For many attendees, this hour becomes the most productive of the entire symposium because the conversation happens away from lecture theatres and poster boards, in a setting designed for relaxed exchange.

Held on the opening morning in Ioannina, the breakfast capitalises on the energy of arrival. Delegates from across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania are still orienting themselves to the venue, the schedule, and each other. A senior researcher who might be difficult to approach in a packed auditorium is often glad to sit down, exchange names, and talk about shared interests when the formal programme has not yet begun. The format encourages small clusters of conversation rather than staged introductions, which suits people who prefer informal dialogue.

For researchers travelling from Australia, the breakfast carries extra weight. The flight from Sydney or Melbourne to Athens, followed by a connection to Ioannina, can stretch beyond twenty-four hours. Arriving jet-lagged, many Australian delegates find that a morning meal with international colleagues helps reset their internal clock and provides an immediate anchor to the conference community. It is also one of the few moments when Australian early career researchers can flag their work to senior figures from leading groups in the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States without competing with hundreds of simultaneous parallel sessions.

This guide looks at how to prepare for the breakfast, what kinds of conversations tend to develop, and how to turn a brief chat into a lasting professional connection. It also considers the particular circumstances of researchers based in Australia, where the geographic distance from major European and North American centres makes every in-person encounter especially valuable.

Why a Breakfast Matters in Conference Programming

Conference organisers have long understood that the most consequential exchanges rarely happen on stage. The Networking Breakfast at ISABC 2023 is scheduled precisely because it precedes the density of the programme. Without parallel sessions competing for attention, attendees can sustain a conversation for as long as it remains interesting, then move on without missing a talk. The University of Ioannina, which hosts the symposium, has built a reputation for pairing rigorous science with generous informal time.

Senior researchers often attend these breakfasts with a specific purpose: identifying future collaborators, scouting for postdoctoral candidates, or simply catching up on work from groups they do not usually meet at their home institutions. A casual question about someone's poster can open a discussion about shared methodology, complementary instrumentation, or a possible joint grant application. The relaxed pace allows topics to surface that a formal Q&A session would never accommodate.

For delegates who have never attended a large international symposium, the breakfast also serves as a low-stakes rehearsal space. It is a chance to practise introducing a research project in two or three sentences, to test how a specific question lands with a senior figure, and to build the confidence required for later interactions during poster sessions or social evenings.

The Australian Context: Distance, Funding, and Visibility

Australian researchers in bioinorganic chemistry work within a distinctive ecosystem. The Group of Eight universities, including the University of Melbourne, Monash, UNSW Sydney, and the University of Sydney, host most of the country's activity in this area, supported by national facilities such as the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and the Australian Synchrotron. Funding flows primarily through the Australian Research Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council, both of which favour international collaboration as a marker of project quality.

The tyranny of distance shapes how Australian researchers approach international meetings. A delegate from Perth faces a flight of more than sixteen hours to reach Europe, and even those based on the east coast must budget for at least a full day of travel each way. Conference attendance often coincides with tightly scheduled fieldwork, teaching commitments, or family responsibilities, so the time spent at the symposium must yield a return that justifies the absence from campus. The Networking Breakfast, concentrated into a single morning, is one of the highest-yield investments an Australian delegate can make.

Visibility is another consideration. Senior researchers in the Northern Hemisphere receive a steady stream of applications and meeting requests from their own regions. An Australian early career researcher who introduces themselves clearly, explains the strengths of their home institution, and articulates a specific reason for the connection can cut through that volume. A follow-up email after the symposium, referencing the breakfast conversation, often lands more effectively than a cold inquiry sent from a different time zone months later.

Preparing Your Research Story in Advance

The most effective participants at the Networking Breakfast arrive with a clear, concise description of their current work. Three sentences are usually enough: what system is being studied, what method is being applied, and what finding has emerged recently. Australian delegates who have spent time at the Australian Synchrotron or within groups affiliated with AINSE often have access to infrastructure that is rare elsewhere, and mentioning this can spark genuine interest from senior figures considering future partnerships.

It also helps to read at least one recent paper by the senior researchers you most want to meet. A comment such as "I noticed your 2022 work on copper homeostasis and wondered whether you had considered applying the same approach to" demonstrates familiarity and respect, and it gives the conversation a concrete direction. Speculation is less productive than curiosity, so framing questions as genuine inquiries tends to work better than assertions.

Practical details matter as well. Have a small notebook or a digital note-taking app ready to record names, affiliations, and any specific suggestions offered. Senior researchers frequently recommend a technique, a colleague, or a funding scheme in passing, and these tips are easy to forget once the day's sessions begin. A brief note taken on the spot prevents the regret of a lost lead.

Conversations That Lead Somewhere

Not every chat at the breakfast will produce a collaboration, and that is by design. Some conversations clarify a research direction, others introduce a relevant journal or conference, and a few simply build the kind of collegial relationship that pays off years later. The Royal Australian Chemical Institute, for example, maintains partnerships with several international chemical societies, and Australian researchers who cultivate a network of senior contacts abroad are often nominated for awards, invited to speak at regional meetings, or put forward for visiting fellowships.

One useful approach is to ask senior researchers about the most exciting development they have seen in the past year, rather than focusing solely on their own work. This question flatters without overstepping, and it often reveals shared interests that can be explored further over coffee later in the symposium. The ISABC 2023 programme includes a Keynote on Artificial Metalloenzymes for Biocatalysis, and breakfast conversations that touch on the themes raised in such plenaries tend to flow naturally into the rest of the day. For context on how previous bioinorganic symposia have structured their programmes, the ICPH 2015 conference offers a useful reference point.

Different networking opportunities at the symposium suit different goals, as the following comparison shows.

Setting Best For Formality Follow-Up Potential
Networking Breakfast Broad introductions, first contact with PIs Relaxed High if notes are taken
Poster Session Detailed technical discussion Moderate High with business cards
Plenary Q&A Public intellectual exchange Formal Low to moderate
Symposium Dinner Sustained conversation, career advice Relaxed Very high
Coffee Breaks Quick catch-ups, logistics Casual Moderate

If a senior researcher expresses interest in your work, offer to send a one-page summary after the meeting. This is a small commitment that differentiates you from the many delegates a busy PI encounters in a week. The summary need not be polished; a brief abstract, a figure, and a contact address are usually sufficient. Following through promptly signals professionalism and keeps the connection alive once the symposium ends.

Bridging Cultural and Professional Norms

Networking across borders involves more than exchanging email addresses. Australian academic culture tends to be relatively informal, with first-name usage common even with senior colleagues, and this can translate well into the relaxed breakfast setting. At the same time, Australian researchers are accustomed to working in labs where the morning begins with a flat white and a quick catch-up, and they often find that European colleagues appreciate this conversational warmth after the formality of a formal dinner.

Time zones are an underrated obstacle. A senior researcher in Berlin or Boston who agrees to a future video call needs to know that their Australian counterpart will be available at 7 am local time or after 9 pm. Establishing this expectation early prevents misunderstandings that can sour an otherwise promising connection. A short, specific suggestion such as "Would a Tuesday at 8 am Australian Eastern Standard Time work for you?" is far more useful than a vague "Let's catch up soon."

Language is rarely a barrier in bioinorganic chemistry, as English remains the lingua franca of the field. However, delegates from non-English-speaking backgrounds may appreciate patience with accented speech, and slowing down slightly when introducing a complex idea is a small courtesy that improves comprehension for everyone. The symposium's diverse attendance has set high standards for inclusive communication.

Practical Recommendations and Next Steps

A few habits can transform the breakfast from a pleasant social occasion into a strategic part of the symposium. Arriving a few minutes early allows you to choose a table that mixes seniority and geography, while introducing yourself to the person on your left and the person on your right doubles the number of conversations possible in a single sitting. Leaving before the official end forfeits the last, often most relaxed, exchanges, so plan the morning schedule accordingly.

Secure your place at the symposium and review the full programme through the ISABC 2023 website, where registration, accommodation bookings, and abstract submissions are handled by Zita Congress & Event Management, the official secretariat. The Networking Breakfast is included with full registration, and early booking ensures a seat at the table where your next collaboration might begin.