Conference Matters 143

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

Associations are next generation dedicated to the

Is the next generation eager to actively partici pate in professional associations and their conferences, or do all the stops need to be pulled out to inspire young professionals? Many groups are ready to roll out the red carpet, and the industry believes it will be well worth it.

cology, which has an office in the Netherlands. “We’re very aware of it and very actively working on it,” says Eline Keijer, Manager Congresses & Meetings. At ECNP, they’re called Early Career Scientists , or ECS . To belong to this group, you must be under 40, live in Europe, and have one of the following positions: predoctoral or doctoral student, postdoc, assistant, or a doctor in trai ning within the first five years after obtaining the doctoral degree. ECNP offers a range of activities for people who meet these criteria throughout the year and at the association’s annual conference, which will be held for the 38th time in October 2025, this time in Amsterdam. Some 6,000 participants from all over the world are expected to attend the event. “We have significantly lower registration fees for the ECS group, among others. The pro gramme includes a number of sessions and

whether the youth are prepared to strengthen the association ranks on their own. We have to come up with a strategy that includes creating awards for special talent and establishing an academy. We need to do something . Louise Gorringe of Kenes Group started keeping track of ideas a while ago. One suggestion was to involve young members during the conference or another important event to maintain their com mitment elsewhere. “Offer them opportunities to connect and contribute throughout the year: discussion forums, sitting on committees, men tor programs, events, etc.” Another tip was deve loping ways to help them connect with other ‘beginners’ among the participants and visitors ahead of time. Early Career Academy An organisation that is investing heavily in the next generation through several initiatives is the European College of Neuropsychopharma

meetings specifically aimed at this target group. For example, ECS members can speed date to find their ideal translational partner during the annual conference. Bridges are built that bring the two fields of preclinical and clini cal research together to share experiences and get better acquainted. Some of the ‘matches’ visit each other for two weeks, a bit like a short internship. We’ve been holding speed dating for a few years now, and it’s very successful,” says Keijer. ECNP recently launched the Early Career Academy, which focuses entirely on the younger group. Its goal is to facilitate sustaina ble engagement with ECNP and support young scientists. There’s the opportunity to apply for a tempo rary position within one of the ECNP networks, to be involved in starting new podcasts, and to chair ECS sessions during the annual confe rence. There’s also an ECNP Rising Star Award

As revealed by Deloitte’s 2024 Gen Z and Millen nial Survey, the vast majority of this young generation is likely to turn down assignments or employers that don’t align with their ethics or beliefs. In their view, A: speed, B: smartness and C: accessibility generally count. Preferably, everything is accessible 24/7 via a range of channels. Imagine an organisation’s need to satisfy both its older members as well as its new ones. Ensuring growth from below is crucial to keeping associa tions alive in the future when experienced mem bers have left due to retirement. Adding young people usually means bringing in fresh ideas as well as technical skills. For example, a paper is good, but shouldn’t we communicate via social media? Those are questions they’ll be asking. All year round We hear this topic everywhere, and it demands attention. It’s clear that we can’t sit back and see

and the Excellence Awards for ECS researchers who have submitted research that could poten tially advance the science of brain diseases. “Because we do so much for this younger generation, more ECS people come to ECNP activities every year. They are truly part of our community. And the number of initiatives keeps growing,” Keijer adds. Networking is essential Creating scholarships and internship programs shows an association’s dedication, as pre viously proven. According to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), 57 percent of employers have conver ted interns into full-time employees. Offering valuable internship experiences creates value and involvement. Networking is essential for young members to settle into the sector or industry where they plan to work. According to a study by Deloitte, live networking in order

By Evelien Baks

What’s in it for me? Young professionals see the world differently, and what they can benefit from in life is definitely a key factor. Daily life is usually ‘on demand’, such as paying for streaming servi ces that include their favourite shows. Generation Z , or Gen Z , was born roughly between 1995 and 2012. Technology is the most normal thing in the world for this generation, with the Internet, social media and devices being commonplace. Their expectations are also quite high; they’ll move on when something is dis appointing or doesn’t work.

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