What Happened in the USERN Congress 2016: Flash Back on Day 1

November 8th: Here is where our journey begins. Half past seven in the morning is when the delegates are supposed to come. Days after days and night of hard work and now it begins. Most of the delegate are here as early as 7 o'clock in the morning. A thousand delegates and only 7 desks of registration? Would not that be a chaos? The registration begins with rows of delegates renewed as fast as it can work. By 8:30, nearly everyone is registered in their seats and all the material have been moved to the on-site registration desk and VIP site. The opening ceremony begins. Tehran University of Medical Sciences is the host to this whole event and the TUMS director Dr. Ali Jafarian, delivered his lecture, with all facts and figure on the TUMS activities and appreciation to the USERN delegates and organizing committee. Dr. Sadollah Nasiri Gheydari, the director general of Iran National Commission of UNESCO in Paris, expressed his gratitude and honor that UNESCO had the opportunity to support this multidisciplinary congress and UNESCO support for the goal of science without borders. Dr Nima rezaei, USERN President, and director of the USERN Congress and USERN Prize 2016, was last to attend the lectern. He delivered the message of appreciation from Iran's minister of Health Dr. Hassan Gahzizade Hashemi, which reads:

"Delegates, Top 1% Scientists, and Honorable Guests,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Islamic Republic of Iran, a historic land of art and science. I am honoured to open this event as a unique platform for promoting interdisciplinary scientific exchange and for connecting pioneers with juniors to help foster an even more collaboration-friendly scientific environment. Basic and clinical sciences in the Islamic Republic of Iran, have been rapidly growing in terms of quantity of scientific publications in the past decade, under the banner of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Meanwhile, the quality of scientific activities either in providing health services or steeping the citations is now our main focus. The rising number of young scientists in our country, provide a promising horizon for our next generations, and serve as a great opportunity for Iranian talents to collaborate with peers and pioneers across the world.

The presence of Nobel laureate in Medicine, Professor John Gurdon, among young scholars provides an opportunity to cherish the advances made in science, from genome to galaxy, by these great individuals. The history of science has been a testament to the critical role of great scientists who not only made great strides but shared their experience for the further progression of science. While appreciating the organizers of such a promising gathering, I wholeheartedly support the goals of this congress and wish the enhancement of personal and professional relationships among scientists worldwide."

Hassan Hashemi MD

Minister of Health and Medical Education

And there bagan the USERN Congress Day#1: Science from Galaxy to Genome:  Each Lecture being preceded by a 5 minute video clip and music lines played by piano players. Professor Sir John Bertrand Gurdon, Nobel Laureate in Medicine in 2012, was the first lecturer with the USERN Nobel Talk: Nuclear reprogramming as a route to cell replacement therapy. The onsite registration has just begun outside and more than 200 delegates are added to the large number of audience in the convention centre of TUMS Central building. Following a short coffee break, USERN Keynote lectures introduced World top Scientists, on the Origin of the genes, Climate change and earth system modelling, and Astrobiology of the evolution of earth and alternative planets:

‘’What the genes tell us about our origins, evolutionary history and our current health’’, by Dr. Francesco Cucca

‘’Uncertainty in life: Climate change and global warming’’ by the young scientist from Open university Dr. Tamsin Edwards

‘’The universe: Conception and evolution’’ by Professor Bahram Mobasher from Californai Riverside

The focused group discussion started right after the coffee break with ‘’How would networking change our lives in the future? The dawn of a new era’’ by Dr. Guanrong Chen and ‘’Social Conception and perception of laughing: Our perception of laughter tells us what laughter is talking about’’ by Dr. Willibald Ruch. This harmonical series of lectures on science from galaxy to genome, culminated in panel discussion to clarify different aspects of this issue.  The presence of USERN Advisory board members from Iran, Dr. Ali Akbar Moosavi-Movahedi, Sadollah Nasiri Gheydari, Reza Tavakkoli-Moghaddam, and Dr. Roja Rahimi  as chairmen of the sessions added to the value of the lectures. UNESCO was the host to the social event and Dinner of the first night of the congress, a tour to the house of Dr. Hesabi, renowned Iranian physicist, architect, biologist and scientist.

By Farzaneh Rahmani