by Yanin Suksangkharn – Seoul, South Korea
In the summer of 2024, I had the opportunity to participate in the Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM) in Seoul, South Korea. The conference was one of the venues for people who work in neuroimaging research. For me, this trip was a mixture of academic innovation and cultural familiarity.
Academic Moments That Stood Out
OHBM is the place for neuroimaging that combines people with backgrounds such as neuroscience, machine learning, and statistics. For me, it was an eye-opening event where I could see people showcasing new research techniques or intertwining knowledge between the fields. Of course, it was more than possible to meet the authors of books and articles or the pioneers of familiar techniques shoulder-to-shoulder.
It was my first time attending this conference. I presented my poster titled „Effects of beta-amyloid on the temporo-parietal network across the Alzheimer’s disease continuum.” However, I found that the title was pretty unspecific for such a technical conference. My poster was sorted into the clinical category, and no audience could figure out that I was trying to showcase my technique to the conference. Lesson learned: I should curate my content better to target the audience. In a conference with thousands of posters, the title is the only way to draw the right audience to your work. One of the most satisfying moments was meeting a group of researchers who also use dynamic causal modeling (DCM), the technique central to my research, from different corners of the world. After years of working in what often felt like an isolated niche, connecting with others who shared similar challenges and goals was genuinely motivating. I learned how DCM was advancing in many ways. For example, one researcher was introducing a non-static variable to the model, and another was trying to migrate DCM from MATLAB to Julia, a more efficient language.
Back in Familiar Territory
As someone from Asia, going to South Korea for a major conference was a pleasant experience. The cultural nuances, the hospitality, and, of course, the food felt wonderfully familiar. It might sound ethnically cliché, but after years of living in Europe, my happiness was sparked by something as simple as having rice for breakfast. Seoul itself is a vibrant city that seamlessly blends ultra-modern innovation with rich traditional heritage. My experience in Seoul ranged from a stimulating club night to exploring palace landmarks rich in Korean history. I really appreciate the organizers for curating such a wonderful experience.
Reflections
OHBM 2024 was more than just an academic event; it was a chance to connect with my research community, especially within my niche, and to experience the energy that comes from being surrounded by passionate, curious minds. I left Seoul full of ideas, new connections, and inspiration to advance my research.
I am looking forward to the next OHBM in the coming year. Lastly, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to SynAGE, my supervisors, and my colleagues for their support throughout this journey—from the initial stages of abstract submission to making the most of my experience in Seoul.