Attending and presenting at my first conference – Fertility 2025 (Liverpool)

By Laura Quesada Ojeda

Fertility is a widely renowned conference that features incredible research happening in reproductive sciences from all over the world. I am very passionate about reproductive research, and I felt this conference would be an excellent way to learn about everything currently happening in the field as well as to explore potential academic and professional opportunities for my future.
Last year, I had the opportunity to present the work I had completed during my final year honours project at the Early Careers (EC) Symposium organised by SRF prior to the main conference. Although I had previously had the chance to present my dissertation work in front of small groups within my university setting, this EC symposium was an exciting opportunity to present at a nationwide conference. All the presenters had 3 minutes to present their work and there were also 2 minutes for questions at the end. Although this might seem like a short amount of time, condensing my research and communicating it clearly and effectively in a limited timeframe was a valuable skill to develop. Consequently, I rehearsed my presentation multiple times and received feedback both at lab meetings and at home, which helped me refine my presentation and feel more prepared.

Even though I had already presented parts of my dissertation project elsewhere, I still felt nervous, and I was also a little worried about the questions I might be asked. But practicing my talk really helped things run smoothly. In the end, the audience was very friendly, and the questions turned out to be insightful and constructive, which made the whole experience much more positive. Some members of the audience even approached me later on to speak further about my research!

As well as attending and presenting at the EC symposium, prior to the main conference I also attended the workshop organised by SRF which I really enjoyed. Last year, it was a very interesting talk about publications, and I learnt a lot! It was also an excellent opportunity to relax before the presentation, and network with new people.

The “Meet the Mentor” breakfast event that SRF organised was really inspiring as well. I enjoyed hearing about how different researchers in the SRF community got to where they are and the variety of academic paths they followed. It was great to see that everyone’s journey was unique and that there is not just one set path in academia.
Moreover, the main conference itself was a highlight too. Throughout the main conference, I discovered an intriguing area within reproductive biology that combines aspects of reproduction and immunology, something I had not previously been aware of. Hearing a talk on this topic was truly inspiring and ultimately motivated me to pursue one of my Master’s projects in this field, within that very research group.
One of the most valuable things I learned throughout the conference was the feeling of truly being part of a community of scientists, which was incredibly gratifying. Even though I am still a student at the start of my career, I felt included and welcomed as part of the wider scientific community. The conference also helped me realise that what genuinely inspires me and fuels my passion is science, particularly reproductive biology, which really sparks my curiosity. I left the event even more certain that science is what I want to dedicate my career to.

My advice to all early careers would be to be brave and put yourself out there. It was a very rewarding experience! Although it can feel a bit nerve-racking at first, everyone is very friendly, and presenting at the EC Symposium is an excellent way to begin. I have realised that the more you present, the easier and more natural it becomes over time. We have to trust the process!