I’ve just returned from the 8th International Crustacean Congress held in Frankfurt, Germany. This is a fantastic meeting where crustacean biologists from at least 15 countries came together and discuss their crustacean-based research and often meet their collaborators in person for the first time. Indeed, I met several people with whom I had only ever known through email or who I haven’t seen for many years.
Crustacean biology is a diverse and vibrant field with active research on topics such as taxonomy, physiology, developmental biology, endocrinology, etc. As a trained taxonomist, I often forget just how much research goes on beyond naming and describing species. In fact, I often forget just how diverse crustaceans really are because I spend most of my time thinking about spider crabs. This was a nice reminder that crustacean biology is diverse and on the forefront of genomic and physiological research.
This year, the meeting was hosted by Dr. Michael Türkay from the Senckenberg Museum in Frankfurt, Germany. The meeting consisted of 6 days of oral presentations with 5 keynote addresses. As with most meetings, there was a poster session. This is often the way researchers who cannot attend the meeting keep colleagues updated about their work. All of the sessions were well-attended and I know I learned a lot about crustaceans that I never knew before. The highlight for me was a presentation that utilized 3D computer renderings and 3D printed models to investigate specialized appendages of some copepods.
Additionally there were special organized symposia where related research topics were presented. I took part in a symposium about DNA barcode identification of decapods (crabs, shrimps, & lobsters). This symposium included some really cool research, including one study that used DNA barcodes to help identify cryptic species of fiddler crabs in South-East Asia. My presentation focused on a biodiversity survey from Bali, Indonesia made as part of the Indonesian Biodiversity Research Center summer course. People were very keen to know how they too could help us collect decapods from Bali.
Frankfurt seems like a long way to go to talk about crustaceans. While it is true that getting to Germany can be a long journey, international meetings among researchers are an integral part of scientific research because the meetings foster a sense of community and collaboration. These meetings offer great opportunity for students to meet senior researchers who may become their future advisors and collaborators. For myself, attending this meeting meant a chance to re-connect with colleagues and collaborators and their new students.
Your experience is very inspirational for me. I started studying crustaceans some years ago and all days I find new things that surprise me. I hope some day to travel so that to know how other people work and study this fantastic animals. I'd glad if you can tell me about researchers in Germany or in the US working in crustaceans (I´m looking for apply to a master)
Posted by: JUAN SEBASTIAN | 09 March 2017 at 03:08 PM