Editor’s Note: Mary Ann Brown produces the upcoming NGx Applying Next-Generation Sequencing and the Next-Generation Sequencing Data Management meetings being held next month in Providence, Rhode Island. She is giving thought leaders in the NGS Leaders community an opportunity to lead small group discussions scheduled during the conference. Would you like to host a discussion group at the event? Read her post below to learn more. - Janine Holley
August 9, 2011 : Mary Ann Brown (Executive Director, Conferences, Cambridge Healthtech Institute) : Making connections at conferences is my primary objective in participating. Sometimes these connections happen by chance outside the lecture room, but at
times these connections need time and space to develop. For this
reason, I created the Successful
Sequencing Discussion Groups at my conferences. These tables
facilitate conversations on specific discussion topics over morning
coffee. At every conference the feedback from these discussion
tables is: “we want more: more time and more topics.”
Often
for me, it is hard to decide which table to join because all the topics
are relevant. The hour flies by too quickly. I know how
difficult it is to stop the discussions and move back into the session
room. Great science is achieved by sharing and listening!
So, I need your help in adding
even more to these discussion tables. I am always looking for
stimulating discussion topics and have encouraged speakers, sponsors, and
exhibitors to host tables at the NGx: Applying Next-Generation
Sequencing conference this September 27-29. This
year, I am also looking to the NGS Leaders community to suggest topics and
potentially host a discussion table. Your online forum is perfectly
suited to start a discussion. So what research questions keep you
up at night? What would you like to discuss with the NGS community? Topics can range from instruments, research applications, pipelines, data
analysis, trouble-shooting, protocols, and what’s next. The NGS
Leaders Community is growing rapidly. Leaders, lead the way.
Contact me for more information. I look forward to seeing you in Providence! ~ Mary Ann