At FEMS, we organize several events that focus on promoting and connecting scientists; promoting scientific excellence, encouraging diversity, and building momentum for public outreach, education, and communications projects. Formal and informal events help develop relationships across all disciplines relating to microbiology and across all sectors and put the right people “in the same room”.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made us review how our events achieve these and deliver events in a safe, flexible, effective and accessible manner. We realize that staying connected is more important than ever. We are therefore working together with our Member Societies on the best ways to create opportunities to connect and share knowledge virtually, accessible to all members of the microbiology community.

One of the consequences is that our upcoming 9th FEMS Congress of European Microbiologists, originally planned to be in Hamburg, Germany, will become an online congress, to be held from 12 – 14 July via fems2021.org.

Other FEMS events in 2021 (FEMS Summer School for Postdocs and FEMS Summer School on Microbiology Education) remain as they were scheduled to be held in 2021. However, we are keeping a close eye on developments of the global situation and we will keep you informed as plans progress via our websites and social media channels.