At the end of September, Laura and Izzy from Cohort 8 travelled to Bento Gonçalves, Brazil for the 19th Brazilian Meeting on Organic Synthesis. The conference included a week packed with incredible speakers, including Nobel Prize winner David MacMillan, along with a host of other highly acclaimed organic chemists, including Bill Morandi, Ohyun Kwon, Christina White, and many more.

Both Laura and Izzy were able to present their research as poster presentations, and network with chemists from all over the world, allowing valuable discussions on their research to take place. They have both come back to Nottingham with new connections in their field, which they hope to foster for the rest of their academic careers.

In addition to this, the conference was held in sunny Bento Gonçalves, a region known for its vineyards and wineries, allowing the student to explore these and network over a glass of vinho tinto.

“It was extremely beneficial to gain feedback from fellow students and local academics, who provided us both with valuable ideas and suggestions, as well as improving our presentation skills and overall confidence in discussing our science” - Laura Blair and Izzy Wood (cohort 8)