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NWO Life

28 - 29 May 2026

Egmond aan Zee

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 NWO Life is an annual scientific conference for Life scientists that offers inspiration in several ways: enjoy sessions with world-leading keynotes and researchers. Share your research with a full spectrum of life scientists at all career stages. Gain new perspectives by fresh insights from other experts.

You shape the programme: the call for abstracts is open! Make sure to submit your abstract and register.

Deadlines

  • Poster abstracts: 21 April
  • Registration: 7 May

NWO Life provides a platform to easily access scientific knowledge beyond your own research field. Spanning two days, the scientific programme is organised by topics tailored to fit research of various backgrounds. This makes the sessions ideal for gaining unexpected insights. The conference caters to life science researchers at all career stages. Early career researchers gain experience by presenting their findings, while more advanced researchers discover new goals and collaborations during plenary and poster sessions. All participants will have ample opportunities to network.  

This years' theme:Changes in Life

Changes in Life refers both to the dynamics within living systems and to the transformations taking place in the life sciences research field.

On the biological side, it includes processes such as metamorphosis, development, adaptation, aging, behavioural shifts, and plasticity. These are changes that occur at the level of individuals, populations, or entire systems. Life is, by definition, in constant motion.

At the same time, the life sciences as a discipline are changing rapidly. Technological breakthroughs reshape the way we study biology. Increasing insight into complexity pushes researchers to look beyond traditional boundaries. The field is also becoming more connected to major societal challenges, which raises new questions and new possibilities.

Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration play a growing role in this transformation. They enable progress that no single field could achieve alone.

With Changes in Life, the conference addresses these developments within the life sciences. It invites dialogue, highlights emerging trends, and provides a platform to reflect on what the life sciences need in the world of today.

Why NWO Life?

To connect senior and junior researchers from all different disciplines in the life sciences. To explore and push boundaries. To discuss new or desirable developments in the field. To get inspired by each other’s research and approaches and to start new interdisciplinary collaborations.

Who is invited?

Researchers at all scientific research institutes including the university medical centres in the Netherlands, in all career phases including master students, are warmly invited to join and contribute to the programme. People working in the industry, policymakers, and lectors and their master students at Universities of Applied Sciences (HBOs) are also invited to join and contribute.