Donders Discussions

The Donders Institute is the neuroscience hub in Nijmegen, part of Radboud University. There are many collaborations between researchers at the Netherlands Institute of Neuroscience and the folks at Donders.

This year, a group of enthusiastic PhD students and postdocs organized Donders Discussions, a conference in which scientists present, brainstorm, share ideas and what’s in the name: they discuss. This year the Donders Discussion conference was held on 17 and 18 October at the Sanadome Hotel & Spa in Nijmegen.

I was flattered by their invitation to participate in their scientific panel discussion at the very end of the conference. This is the first time I took part in a panel like this, and it was exciting to share my views on the role of scientists within society! I consider myself more of a fundamental scientist: trying to understand the brain rather than looking for clinical solutions to brain disorders. We discussed that the two aren’t separate however. Both perspectives: intellectual curiosity and societal impact are essential to scientific progress.

More importantly, it was great to interact with the other panelists (Giulio Meccaci, Gilbertone Fisone, Janna Vrijsen and Nils Kohn) and the many attentive young scientists in the room. In addition to catching up with some of my science friends in Nijmegen (and my parents, who live in this corner of the country).

Photo credits: Margot Lubbers & Joana Pedros de Faria