Hammond explains that the organizing committee selects session themes based on popular demand: “At the start of every year, we sit down and try to work out some themes that are new and exciting, that people have requested from previous years or that people have shown a particular interest in, and we try to take a lot of what the audience wants and take that back into the whole process of how we set up the conference for the following year.”
Another session is devoted to poster on the podium presentations by finalists for the Pat Burnell New Investigator Award, given to “the best piece of research from either, academia or from industry from a new researcher.” The winner will receive a plaque and a check for £500. The Pat Burnell awards finalists will also take part in poster sessions that will feature more than 65 posters by researchers from 14 countries.
Approximately 70 exhibitors will offer their expertise to attendees at this year’s exhibition. “Obviously, a lot of the exhibitors are specialists in their fields, and people taking the time to sit and talk with them can probably learn as much as they can from some of the scientific talks about what’s going on in the industry and can get help to solve some of their R&D problems,” Hammond points out.
The drinks reception at DDL 21
In order to encourage attendees to interact more with exhibitors, DDL is introducing a quiz game where answers will be available at the tables of exhibitors who choose to participate. Several prizes will be given out to quiz winners, including an IPad and several Kindles. Exhibitor/sponsors also have the opportunity to post to the DDL LinkedIn group, which currently has approximately 150 members.
As always, DDL will offer plenty of opportunities for networking, including a drinks reception on Wednesday evening and a poster awards and drinks reception on Thursday evening.
