By Dr. Norfarrah Mohamed Alipiah

36 Fellows, 16 Countries, One Week in Australia

I sat in Kuala Lumpur Airport, feeling unwell and exhausted after a night of disturbed sleep for eight hours of flying alone from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur. The weight of leaving Australia hit me, and I realized that nothing lasts forever, not even the cold September rain.

Memories flooded my mind. From the day I received the letter saying that I was awarded the Young Scientist Program 2024 Fellowship, I flashed back to the somewhat daunting process of applying for the fellowship, seeking travel approval for government servants, and acquiring an Australian Electronic Travel Authority. As I look back, I can’t help but think that it was all worth it.

I had the chance to meet 46 amazing people, including both Fellows and the organizing committee and speakers of the Young Scientist Program 2024 (YSP). Throughout eight days of packed programs at Cammeray Waters in the Macedon Ranges and in Melbourne city center, I learned so much that I felt like I was starting over in my research journey, questioning what I thought I knew and discovering how much I had yet to learn.

It was always rainy and chilly, as I remembered. From day one, we were given opportunities to get to know the other Fellows personally, rather than just on an achievement-based or organizational level. We worked together on group activities that required us to communicate and think outside our routines to stimulate critical thinking within a reasonable time. This taught me that knowledge is very humbling when I realize how much more there is to discover. We also had fun and memorable moments at a country-style cottage outside the village of Woodend in the Macedon Ranges, where we hung out, took pictures, and explored the lakes.

They say some experiences change you forever. For me, the YSP 2024 Fellowship is one of those experiences. From speaker talks to communication workshops to Fellows' research presentations, the sessions provided us with experiential learning opportunities that allowed us to be creative and innovative, while also seeing how our learning applies to real life and how we can bring new concepts and tools back home to our teams.

The research life-sharing talks with IUMBMB and FAOBMB presidents, Professor Alexandra Newton and Professor Joon Kim, were brilliant sessions. I learned so much in that hour by listening to these leaders’ candid reflections on their personal struggles and achievements—most notably, when to move on from a project.

As I strive to deepen and strengthen my research niche and continue my research journey, this was the perfect learning experience at the perfect time. Through the Fellows' research presentations, I learned that passion and consistency are the keys to success. I am honored to be part of this network of some of the most amazing people on Earth.

Soon after, we left Cammeray Waters by bus to Melbourne city center, where we attended Biomolecular Horizons 2024. The crowds were much larger, with over 1,800 attendees, 700 posters, and 500 insightful talks. This Congress was designed for sharing knowledge and connecting with inspiring individuals from around the globe. Each session was comprehensive in biomolecular science, covering a wide range of topics that sparked curiosity and discussion. From the bustle of the networking events to the discussions at the poster presentations, every moment was a chance to learn something new and forge collaborative paths forward.

I leave Melbourne with a heavy heart and still more than eight hours of flying ahead before I arrive home in Kuala Lumpur. Still, I find comfort in the hope that we will meet again, for these people are nothing short of extraordinary and wonderfully eccentric in all the right ways to change the world for the better.

Curiosity leads to questioning, which will take us further than confidence and answers. This is a key lesson from the Grimwade Medal Public Lecture by Professor Brian Kobilka and the Nobel Awardee Special Plenary by Sir Richard Roberts. Using what I have learned this week, I will continue to grow and work smart to better equip myself and those around me to drive change in our complex but shared world.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Federation of Asian and Oceanian Biochemists and Molecular Biologists (FAOBMB), the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB), and the Malaysian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (MSBMB) for their generous support. Thank you to the YSP 2024 organizing committee and speakers. Photo credits to Osvaldo Contreras, Jessica Oyie Sousa Onyeisi, Ryan C.V. Lintao, and Anthony Ho.

Date of Input: 21/11/2024 | Updated: 21/11/2024 | azah