Abstract
Junior member activities at the ERS International Congress 2015 http://ow.ly/R2oIn
The ERS structure is developing and so is the JMC. We are no longer considered the underground of ERS. As such, the previous title for this series, “News from the Underground”, is not representative anymore. The team’s work has been accepted and appreciated by both ERS and the Breathe leadership and, therefore, the series has been renamed “Juniors’ Voice” representing the activities we perform and the goals we strive for. We would like to ensure all junior readers that we will continue our dedication and work, create more chances and find more actively interested juniors to start and/or promote their involvement in ERS activities. From now “Juniors’ Voice” will keep you informed about current JMC and Assembly activities, scientific news from flagship ERS scientific activities and new opportunities for active cooperation.
The ERS International Congress 2015 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is drawing near. For many ERS junior members, this means preparing posters and practicing presentations. While some of you are already seasoned presenters, for others, Congress will perhaps be the first opportunity to present to an international audience. We also hope and believe that this year that more Juniors will be invited and accept those invitations to act as chairs in sessions. The JMC has worked hard to provide the Assemblies with eligible junior members for this important task, as we believe co-chairing together with experienced colleagues in the field to be a great experience early in one’s career. It needs to be emphasised that not only chairing but also presenting and even visiting poster sessions in your field is important; this is valuable to allow you to start new scientific collaborations and begin new friendships. JMC members will be waiting to meet you and we are always keen to help you as needed.
First and foremost, however, the ERS International Congress is a melting pot. This cannot be stressed enough: as young faculty we often tend to run between the big symposia, eager not to miss the key speakers, the leading researchers, the people who have shaped research to date and continue to change our scientific fields. Indeed, Amsterdam will feature many big names. The important thing is not only to listen but also to ask questions and take the opportunity to meet and discuss with other researchers and clinicians. The Juniors’ Networking Event this year will feature an introductory session on what ERS has to offer its junior members and how they can get involved, this event will be the perfect occasion to collaborate with other juniors. We wish for as many juniors as possible to show up and to get a lively discussion on the needs and expectations of the thousands of early-career members out there! During the 3 years since its initiation, the JMC has worked to increase junior representation within the Society as a whole. In addition to the formal representation by JMC across ERS, for example, in the Science and Education Councils, the website and the collaboration with Breathe etc., juniors have now become successfully involved in sessions at meeting, guidelines’ writing groups, in ERS courses, reviewing fellowships applications and conference contributions, as well in the production of Respipedia, the peer-reviewed wiki dedicated to respiratory medicine. We are also involved in the process of creating new industry-sponsored methodological fellowships and hands-on practical courses during forthcoming Congresses.
Recently, collaboration with the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology’s Junior board was initiated, and we are proud to welcome their chair Olympia Tsilochristou to the ERS International Congress and the JMC meeting! We hope that, as an organisation, we can increase such collaboration with other international and national societies, for the benefit of young researchers both within and outside of ERS.
We need to emphasise that, in our opinion, the most important highlights of the programme are the Assembly and Group Meetings. These are important because the most important people in the field are present, the burning topics of the assemblies are discussed and the most important decisions are made. They are the only place where any member or enthusiastic junior may influence the Society. This year, assembly meetings will bring another aspect into reality. In Amsterdam, the 3-year tenure of several members of the JMC comes to an end, and a new JMC chair will be elected. Elections will take place in Assemblies 1, 6, 8, 9 and 10, so in those assemblies, there is a chance to get deeply involved in the junior leadership. We would like to thank our especially active and important JMC colleagues and friends who will finish their mandates during Congress: James Chalmers, Tiago Jacinto, Anne Olland and Anders Bjerg, our current Chair. Without their activity and dedication, the JMC wouldn’t be as successful as it is. We are convinced that the friendships and professional collaborations that have resulted will last forever. All juniors interested and ready for some hard work are welcome to stand in the elections at the assembly meetings. To increase your chances of being elected, it would be of great value to get involved in assembly work as soon as possible. The election of the new JMC Chair will take place at the September meeting of the JMC on the morning of September 30; therefore, if there are juniors planning to stand the election to join the JMC, they should include this into their travel plans.
It is important to emphasise that the JMC is involved not only in ERS global activities, but there are assembly specific activities, for example the Thoracic Oncology Assembly and the ERS Lung Cancer Working Group are setting up a European Network of Senior and Junior Members with a special interest in Thoracic Oncology. The juniors’ network will work together with senior clinicians to provide helpful information towards the current level and quality of lung cancer care and services in Europe and will give grounds to new recommendations towards potential areas of improvement. Should you wish to express your interest and get actively involved, you can contact the Junior Member Representative of Assembly 11, Georgia Hardavella (geogiahardavella@hotmail.com), who is currently recruiting for this process.
Finally, we would like to say how pleased we are to be involved in the ERS International Congress again this year in Amsterdam. During Congress, there will be so much for juniors to do and we would like to encourage all of you to get involved, especially those of you who will attend for the first time. We would especially like for you to contact us and begin the networking process before arrival, through the use of the website http://juniors.ersnet.org; the ERS International Congress is huge so a discussion with more experienced colleagues is of great value to a newcomer. We look forward to seeing you in Amsterdam!
- ©ERS 2015
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