What a great conference.
Excellent, amazing. Great talks by all speakers, great science. We have seen a very broad coverage of the best science that is done right now on those fascinating bacteria. Due to the amazing intracellular organization, lots of electron microscopy, tomography, and the likes, that gave us an impressive view of the diversity in this bacterial super group. Diversity that we are only glimpsing at so far, with many analysing aiming at broadening our coverage of this diversity, at the DNA level, selection and cultivation level, and at the cellular biology, microscopy level. Great coverage of this diversity has been presented.
Due to the small scale of the community, the conference was attended by a small number of participants, 40-45, which allowed for lots of interactions. The social part of the meeting also greatly helped, with an amazing visit to the botanical garden (including a Gregorian singer guide), and a dinner at the beautiful Heidelberg castle (that holds the big wine barrel). Interesting presentation of the artist Eveline Kolijn that presented her work based on science images, bringing a refreshing and colorful side to the conference.
A special issue of the Antonie van Leeuwenhoek publication will be dedicated to this conference, with articles by most of the keynote speakers and some participants. And hopefully a meeting report. If you have missed the conference that would be the best way to catch up. Coming up soon.
Thanks you very much to the EMBO for a generous grant that allowed us to organize this great event and keep the prices low.
All in all, a very good first conference entirely dedicated to the PVC bacteria. The decision was taken to attempt to have another PVC conference in two years. See you then in 2015.
