Edinburgh Perinatal Festival 2012

Dr Ian Laing opens the conference 

The Second Edinburgh Perinatal Festival took place on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th May 2012. Over 100 doctors and scientists came together from as far afield as the Czech Republic and Spain to debate and discuss the latest discoveries in perinatology.

Uniquely bringing together experts in the fields of obstetrics and neonatal care, the two days of discussion saw a series of excellent plenary talks examining subjects as diverse as the impacts of social deprivation on adverse pregnancy outcomes and the health economics of home birth. Younger doctors and researchers also gave shorter talks about their work and presented posters about their latest findings.

The feedback on the festival has been overwhelmingly positive, with delegates finding all the discussions highly informative and leaving Edinburgh with new ideas for further research.

Many of the delegates were also treated to an evening of traditional Scottish entertainment on the Thursday evening, with haggis, neeps and tatties and a ceilidh dance – a great chance to relax and get to know colleagues from far and wide. They were joined by PiggyBankKids president Sarah Brown, who took the opportunity to meet some of the attendees, and witness organiser Ian Laing’s legendary toast to the haggis.

Sara Rinaldi, a PhD student working at the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory, thoroughly enjoyed the event:

"As a PiggyBankKids funded PhD student, it was a great opportunity for me to attend the Second Edinburgh Perinatal Festival. The conference provided a unique opportunity for young scientists like myself and my colleagues in the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory to meet with experts in the fields of obstetrics and neonatology, providing a stimulating environment for us to present and discuss our work.

"Hearing the lectures and subsequent discussions on the problems faced by obstetricians and neonatologists on a daily basis reinforced the importance of our research.

"I also thoroughly enjoyed the dinner and ceilidh organised as part of the conference. It was a very fun evening and it was great that Sarah Brown was able to come along as well.

"Overall the Festival was an excellent conference and I have returned to the laboratory full of new ideas and directions for my research!"

Below is a selection of photos from the event. PiggyBankKids would like to thank all those who helped make the conference such a success, and we look forward to the next event, due in 2014.

PiggyBankKids funded researcher Liz Pilley receives the prize for best oral presentation

 

Dr Ian Laing toasts the haggis...

 

 Before ceilidh dancing begins in earnest!



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