Conference Description
The Fertilization and Activation of Development GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes an array of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.
Traditionally held in Holderness, New Hampshire, the 2027 meeting marks the first time this GRC takes place in Europe, with plans to alternate between North American and European venues going forward. In the scenic seaside of Noordwijkerhout, on the Dutch coast, the 26th Fertilization and Activation of Development GRC will trace an arc from Antonie van Leeuwenhoek's and Regnier de Graaf's 17th-century observations of sperm and ovarian follicles to today's molecular and structural understanding of how gametes form, mature, meet, and launch development. Topics covered will include the evolution of egg and sperm across organisms; spermatogenesis and oogenesis; the molecules necessary for gamete recognition and fusion; environmental influences on fertilization; and the events of egg activation and the initiation of embryonic development. The presentations will showcase findings derived from both traditional research methodologies and cutting-edge approaches, with a session dedicated to emerging technologies and their application to the study and manipulation of reproduction. Attendees will have ample time to discuss unsolved questions, and reflect how convergence across established and novel disciplines is essential to address the field's outstanding questions and its clinical relevance to human fertility and non-hormonal contraception.
This conference will bring together a diverse group of junior and senior investigators from around the world to share their expertise and latest research achievements in these and other areas. Approximately half of the oral presentations will be from invited speakers, and the others will be selected from submitted abstracts and poster presentations, with a spotlight on junior researchers and trainees. All attendees are also encouraged to participate in an informal gathering that will discuss how to responsibly use artificial intelligence (AI) tools in scientific writing, illustration, and grant applications. In the tradition of this GRC, there will be abundant opportunities to network with other scientists and engage in informal scientific discussions with researchers of diverse and multi-disciplinary backgrounds who are at all stages of their careers - not far from where van Leeuwenhoek first glimpsed spermatozoa through his handmade lenses.
The conference chair is currently developing their preliminary program, which will include 9 sessions and the names of the invited speakers and discussion leaders for each of these sessions. The preliminary program will be available by November 4, 2026. Please check back for updates.
