The afternoon began with a warm welcome from Jiří Ellinger, ambassador of the Czech Republic to Denmark, who gave us a hearty welcome and expressed his pleasure at hosting the event at the Czech Embassy and being able to support the organisation and local scientists. From there, the programme continued with a short introduction of Czexpats in Science by its director, Matouš Glanc, who had travelled from Prague to be part of this event. Matouš spoke about the mission of Czexpats in Science and about our commitment to supporting Czech scientists working abroad and building bridges between the Czech and international research communities.
The involvement of the participants intensified as we moved into the flash talk session, a fast-paced and engaging session where ten scientists presented their research in short three-minute pitches. The range of topics was both diverse and stimulating, ranging from AI and plant hormones to birth rate trends, rare diseases, cancer biology, and even the effects of outdoor lighting on ecosystems. Despite the tight time limit, the quality of the talks was exceptional, and what made the flash talk session even more special was that all talks were delivered in Czech, which is a rare and refreshing change in the world of science communication abroad.
After the flash talks, we gathered in the Embassy garden for a networking coffee break. This provided a welcome chance for participants to connect more informally, not just with one another, but also with the Embassy staff who joined in the conversations. To make the atmosphere even more inviting, one of our organisers brought homemade Czech koláče, which added a lovely and home-away-from-home atmosphere.
We then reconvened for a talk by Anita Brožková and Jan Benada, who introduced their initiative, the Sci-Comm Incubator. This volunteer-led group aims to raise the visibility of international researchers within Danish society. Anita and Jan shared some of the events they have already organised and gave us a peek into what lies ahead. Their passion for science communication was truly infectious and sparked lots of new ideas for future collaborations.
The final part of the formal programme was a keynote lecture by neuropsychologist Hana Malá Rytter, who walked us through her professional journey from academic research to clinical practice at Bispebjerg Hospital in Copenhagen. Hana spoke candidly about the challenges and discoveries along the way, focusing on her research into brain plasticity and how it is affected by injury. Her personal story offered both insight and inspiration, reminding us of the many ways scientific careers can evolve.
With the official programme complete, we took the momentum, and the conversations, down to Café Sundet on Svanemøllen Beach. Over dinner and drinks with a beautiful sea view, the discussions continued in a more informal setting, rounding off the day with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
We are already looking forward to future editions of the local meetups of researchers in the Danish capital.