Links within this page: Bioinformatics in the UK | Come Together: A Night of Networking & Fun | ColaborationFest | Edit-A-Thon | ISCB-China Workshop | LGBTQI+ Meet-Up | Bioinfo4Women Meet-Up | Serene Stretch Symposium
Bioinformatics in the UK
Date: Monday, July 21, 2025
Time: 18:00
Location: Exhibition Centre Terrace
Cost: £10 Students, £10 Post-Docs, £20 Professionals
Join us for a dedicated poster and networking reception at the conclusion of the Bioinformatics in the UK track sessions. Attendance is open, but space is limited and registration is required. You can register while registering for ISMB/ECCB 2025.
Come Together: A Night of Networking & Fun
Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Time: 19:00 – 21:00
Location: Punch Tarmey's
Website: https://www.punchtarmeys.co.uk/
Cost: £25 Students, £25 Post-Docs, £50 Professionals
Join us for an unforgettable evening of fun and networking at Punch Tarmey's on Wednesday, July 23, 2025! This exclusive add-on event for ISMB/ECCB 2025 combines great food, good company, and endless entertainment. Your ticket includes a delicious dinner, dessert, two drink tickets, and unlimited access to Arcains, the incredible three-story arcade next door. Whether you're connecting with colleagues, challenging new friends to a game, or just unwinding, this is your chance to kick back and level up your conference experience!
CollaborationFest
Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 and Thursday, July 24, 2025
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
Join us at ISMB CollaborationFest 2025!
CollaborationFest will be a collaborative work event at which participants work together to contribute code, documentation, training materials, and challenging analysis problems and use cases. Bring your own project ideas or come ready to collaborate with others on their projects!
BOSC has held CollaborationFests (aka CoFests) every year before or after ISMB since 2010. (See, for example, https://www.open-bio.org/events/bosc-2024/obf-bosc-collaborationfest-2024/) This year, we decided to hold the CollaborationFest as part of ISMB/ECCB and open it to all registered ISMB/ECCB participants. It will take place during the last two days of ISMB/ECCB.
ISMB CollaborationFest 2025 will be co-organized by volunteers from four COSIs:
- Bioinformatics Open Source Conference (BOSC)
- Bio-Ontologies and Knowledge Representation (BOKR)
- Function COSI
- 3DSig
Due to space constraints, participation in CollaborationFest is limited. To indicate your interest in participating, register for ISMB/ECCB 2025 by June 20 and sign up for CollaborationFest as an “add-on” during the registration process. We will contact you by June 23 to request a few pieces of information to help us organize the event. Last-minute walk-ins may be possible if we are not at capacity.
Limited remote participation will be possible but how much you can interact will be highly dependent on the people and projects active on the day. We expect to have a video feed from the room available; joining will require you to have registered as a (virtual or in-person) ISMB attendee.
Edit-A-Thon
Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
Capacity: 50 in-person, 100 virtual
The ISCB Wikipedia Committee is organizing an Editathon at the Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology (ISMB) Conference in Liverpool, July 2025. This event aims to improve and expand Wikipedia content related to bioinformatics and computational biology, making high-quality scientific knowledge accessible to the global community.
Join forces with researchers, students (from advanced undergraduates to PhDs), and veteran Wikipedia editors as we:
- Upgrade existing articles with up-to-date bioinformatics insights
- Create new entries on critical topics that deserve recognition
- Fortify citations with high-impact, peer-reviewed sources
The editathon will also include an introductory session for newcomers, providing guidance on Wikipedia editing policies and best practices.
By contributing to Wikipedia, attendees will help bridge the gap between scientific advancements and public knowledge, ensuring that key bioinformatics topics are well-documented and freely available. No prior Wikipedia editing experience is required—just a passion for science communication and open knowledge!
Want to contribute? Register here and help shape the future of open science!
Frequently asked Questions here
ISCB-China Workshop
Coming soon.
LGBTQI+ Meet-Up at ISMB/ECCB
Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Time: 13:00 – 14:00
Location: TBD
Join us for an LGBTQI+ lunch meet-up, an opportunity to connect, share experiences, and foster community in a welcoming space. This gathering continues the momentum of the first ISCB LGBTQI+ Symposium and the informal meet-up at ISMB 2024. Whether you're looking to network, find support, or simply enjoy meaningful conversations, we welcome you to be part of this inclusive event!
All LGBTQI+ attendees and allies are invited! Bring your lunch and join us for an hour of connection and camaraderie. 🌈
Want to learn more about the LGBTQI+ Symposium, its impact, and why these spaces are important? Check out our editorial article: Queer voices in computational biology: the first ISCB LGBTQI+ Symposium in Bioinformatics Advances: https://doi.org/10.1093/bioadv/vbae204
Bio4Women Meet-Up: Supporting Women in Bioinformatics
Date: Monday, July 21, 2025
Time: 13:00 – 14:00
Location: TBD
Organized by: Bioinfo4Women
Women are still underrepresented in science, particularly at senior career levels and leadership. The "leaky pipeline" persists in bioinformatics, as it does in other STEM areas, due to biases in hiring, tenure, visibility, and recognition. Addressing these disparities is essential for fostering diversity, inclusion, and innovation in academia. Gender equality is not merely an ethical imperative but also a key promoter of productivity and innovation among scientific teams.
This Birds of a Feather session is a continuation of desk research and takeaways from a workshop that will be conducted during the ELIXIR All Hands in June 2025, providing an open forum to share and exchange initiatives that enable and foster women in science. The Bioinfo4Women initiative will share its successful activities, including mentoring and fellowship schemes, visibility actions, establishment of research lines, and best practices for advancing women to leadership positions.
The session will end with an open debate, where participants can exchange experiences and discuss pragmatic strategies for enhancing gender equality in bioinformatics and beyond.
Speakers:
Alba Jene
Maria Chavero
Eva Alloza
Format: Open discussion and presentation of successful initiatives. All are welcome to participate and share experiences.
Serene Stretch Symposium
Date: Monday, July 21 to Thursday, July 24
Time: 7:30 – 8:00
Location: TBD
Join us for the Serene Stretch Symposium, a refreshing way to start your conference day!
This gentle, 30-minute morning yoga session is open to all and designed to help you feel energized and focused for the scientific programme ahead. Registration isn't required, but is appreciated so we can best plan how to accommodate all those interested. Simply add it to your registration and make sure to bring your own mat or towel!
Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned yogi, take this time to reset and recharge before diving into the day!
