The Second National Forum of Women Scientists in Biomedical Sciences was held in Haikou, Hainan province, from March 28 to 30.

The Second National Forum of Women Scientists in Biomedical Sciences is held in Haikou, Hainan province, from March 28 to 30. [Photo/WeChat account: BSC]

Jointly hosted by the Chinese Society for Cell Biology (CSCB), the Biophysical Society of China (BSC) and the Genetics Society of China, and organized by Hainan Medical University, the event gathered over 200 researchers from across the country to explore cutting-edge topics in biomedicine and discuss the advancement of women in scientific research.

The forum, themed “Cells, Life and Great Health”, began with remarks from Wang Hongyang, president of the China Women’s Association for Science and Technology, and Chen Guoqiang, president of Hainan Medical University. Both speakers emphasized the vital role of women scientists in advancing biomedical research and encouraged more female researchers to strive for scientific excellence.

The opening ceremony was chaired by Liu Mofang, deputy director of the CSCB’s Female Scientists Committee and researcher at the Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

Participating scholars of the forum pose for a group photo. [Photo/WeChat account: BSC]

Renowned scientists including Shi Yunyu from the University of Science and Technology of China and Gu Ying from the Chinese PLA General Hospital attended the forum as invited guests.

Keynote speeches were delivered by Chen Guoqiang, Cao Xiaofeng from the CAS Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chen Zijiang from Shandong University, Luo Qingming from Hainan University and Zhang Hong from the CAS Institute of Biophysics. Their engaging presentations, covering major advances in cancer mechanisms, saline-alkali soil improvement, human embryonic development, whole-brain neural imaging as well as the initiation of autophagy, reflected the frontiers of biomedical sciences while showcasing the scientists’ commitment to solving the nation’s real-world problems.

The forum features a roundtable discussion where distinguished guests engage in an in-depth conversation with young female scientists. [Photo/WeChat account: BSC]

The forum featured more than 30 thematic reports, poster presentations and open discussions, fostering exchanges and interdisciplinary collaboration. One of the highlights of the event was a roundtable discussion on the career development of female researchers. Ten distinguished guests engaged in an in-depth conversation with young female scientists, with topics ranging from postgraduate training to optimizing work-life balance. 

To encourage female innovation in science, the forum continued its support for a fund sponsored by GemPharmatech Co Ltd. This year, 12 outstanding researchers received the fund and were honored with certificates during the closing ceremony, demonstrating the remarkable talent and promise of women in the biomedical field.