A “First-Timer’s” survival guide for online and in-person participants

1.  Make a plan

You will get the most of the conference if you do some preparation work in advance of the meeting.  Spend some time thinking about the most important sessions and talks that you would like to see. The meeting programme in the virtual conference platform and the ESHG mobile app. You will be able to read all the abstracts and make your personalized itinerary in both the virtual conference platform and ESHG Mobile app. It is far better to do this before you get to Gothenburg. Maximise the use of your time on site!
Familiarise yourself with the colour coded session types: different types are designed for a different audience. Avoid being disappointed by a session that will be too basic or too specialised for your interests, despite an interesting title.

2.  Pace Yourself

The meeting has a packed schedule. You will probably find something interesting and useful from 8.30 until 20.00 hrs each day – but we would not necessarily recommend to do so! You will get saturated pretty quickly and by Monday or Tuesday, your ability to absorb useful information will be severely diminished. Again, prioritise what is the most important.

Remember that all presentations, will be available as on-demand content in the virtual conference platform after the conference until November 30, 2027.

3.  Parallel Events

When you attend a session (educational or scientific), you might find that not all of the session is relevant or interesting to you, or you might have spotted a talk in another parallel session room that you’d like to see. It is completely okay to leave one session and join another (but etiquette dictates that you wait for the end of a talk to leave / join the audience).

4.  Interact

Make the most of the opportunity to network. Most people (junior or senior) are delighted to meet new faces and to chat about their work – so don’t be afraid to approach those big names and introduce yourself, and just start chatting!

5. Ask Questions

Don’t be shy about asking questions at the microphone! This is especially true in the educational programmes. Everyone in the audience is there to learn – and so if you have a question, there’s every chance that others will have the same question.
Note that, especially in large halls, it is sometimes difficult for the chairperson to see you in the dark, especially if you are standing in the back. Do not hesitate to address the chairperson in case she or he does not see you.

Online participants can at any time in the session ask questions through the virtual conference platform.

6.  Get There Early!

This is a principle that will serve you well on many fronts.  We have literally thousands of people attending the meeting, and yet some people are surprised to find lines at the registration desk on Saturday afternoon. You will not want to miss the opening plenary this year – so get there early (registration opens on Friday afternoon) – and is open all day Saturday to Tuesday.

It is similar for the queues for food at the opening reception (Saturday evening) and networking party (Monday evening). Just think, with 5000+ people, it is IMPOSSIBLE for everyone to get served immediately.

7. Stay cool and relax!

Sounds cheesy…. but the meeting is extremely busy, and you could try and push yourself to run between every single talk that you want to see,  to try and see all 1,500 posters, to go to every session and so on….. but you’ll be exhausted!  It is far better to have come away with some new friends, have chatted with a ‘big name’ in your field, and have two or three ‘nuggets’ of information that will shape your research.

8.  Business Cards

Although these are becoming a dying breed, we noted that having business cards ready (either physically or via your smart phone) to exchange was helpful, especially when another meeting attendee passes you theirs, but it is a matter of personal preference.

Early Career Presenters in Focus

Various types of fellowships for early career presenters from European and (new) Non-European countries. See here for all details.

You might also be interested to know, that the Scientific Programme Committee decided to have at least 30% of its members aged under 40 years.

Early Career Award Winners of the last meetings have been invited to co-chair a session at the next conference.

Tips for the In-person Participation

Registration at the in-person meeting

All registered participants have received a personalised QR code with which they will be able to print their badges (with the respective booked lunch and networking event tickets) for the conference. The registration desks open already on Friday, June 11, from 14.00 – 18.00 hrs. So in case you are already in Gothenburg the day before, pass by and avoid queuing on Saturday morning.

The Virtual Conference Platform and ESHG 2027 Conferene App

Do you always want to be up-to-date? The virtual conference platform and the ESHG Congress App will guide you through the programme day by day or by session type. You can review the profiles of speakers, help you to find exhibitors by name or by service provided. Add abstracts or entire sessions to your personalised calendar, receive push messages with important reminders and give feedback on talks or sessions. The Conference App for the ESHG Conference will be published 2 weeks before the conference.

Commenting

Do you have a specific comment on the running presentation? To discuss with colleagues, know that many attendees will be using twitter with the hashtags #eshg2027 #sessionnumber (e.g. #eshg2027 #S01).

For all sessions, remember to use the discussion microphones in aisles of the lecture halls.

Live Stream Area in the exhibition

The programme of any overcrowded session room will be live streamed at the Sequencing Square in the exhibition hall during the exhibition opening hours (given no other session takes place at the Sequencing Square at this time).

Posters

Hybrid Posters

Poster Viewing with Authors Sessions – only for in-person participants

Note that posters will be changed daily.

The Poster Viewing with Author sessions will take place in-person at the conference centre in Gothenburg at the following times:

  • Poster Group A: Saturday, June 12, 12:15-13:15 hrs CEST (for posters with board number ending “A”, e.g. P01.01A, P01.03.A – this refers to your final poster board number – not the abstract control number!)
  • Poster Group B: Saturday, June 12 15:45-16:45 hrs CEST (for posters with board number ending “B”, e.g. P01.01B, P01.03.B – this refers to your final poster board number – not the abstract control number!)
  • Poster Group C: Sunday, June 13, 12:45-13:45 hrs CEST (for posters with board number ending “C”, e.g. P01.01C, P01.03.C – this refers to your final poster board number – not the abstract control number!)
  • Poster Group D: Sunday, June 13, 15:45-16:45 hrs CEST (for posters with board number ending “D”, e.g. P01.01D, – this refers to your final poster board number – not the abstract control number!)
  • Poster Group E: Monday, June 14, 12:45-13:45 hrs CEST (for posters with board number ending “E”, e.g. P01.01E, P01.03.E – this refers to your final poster board number – not the abstract control number!)
  • Poster Group F: Monday, June 14, 15:45-16:45 hrs CEST (for posters with board number ending “F”, e.g. P01.01F, P01.03.F – this refers to your final poster board number – not the abstract control number!)

Presenters are requested to upload a digital version of their posters to the virtual conference platform. Participants will be able to e-mail presenters through a messaging system in the virtual conference platform, if the presenter agreed to being contacted.

E-Posters

A number of posters will be presented only as E-Posters, these are accessible in the virtual conference platform or at the 10 e-Poster stations in the E-Poster area in the Hall B. The list of available posters can be viewed on any of these laptops. From there, they can be selected for viewing. Use the zoom-in, zoom-out function to focus on specific parts of the E-Posters.

CME Credits

The European Human Genetics Conference (ESHG 2027), June 12-15, 2027 has been applied for credits at the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME®). Application is pending.