I'm going to release a tsunami of photos from the 1st International Blastocystis Symposium, hoping that they will help everyone involved commemorate this fantastic event but also in order to share a few moments with the rest of the 'Blastocystis community'.
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| Dr Funda Dogruman-Al giving her opening remarks. |
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| In his opening lecture, Dr Graham Clark summarised the advances in Blastocystis research over the past century. |
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| Coffee break outside the plenary room. |
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| Graham and me with Iranian delegates, including Dr Elham Razmjou. |
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| Drs Shashiraja Padukone and Chen-Chieh Liao trying out the local ney flutes... |
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| Dr Hisao Yoshikawa enjoying a bit of masterclass... |
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| Funda with her wonderful students and staff who helped making it all happen. |
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| During coffee breaks, we had time to enjoy a variety of art exhibitions. |
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| Dr Kevin Tan busy with his camera as usual! |
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| Mesmerising "Turkish Delight"... |
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| Funda and me busy handing out awards... |
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| Chen-Chieh Liao receives the prize for the third-best poster, the book 'Blastocystis - pathogen or passenger', from Dr Hisao Yoshikawa, one of the editors. |
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| Erdogan Malatyali won the prize for the best oral presentation. |
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| I was very honoured to receive a plate from Prof Dr Sacit Turanli. |
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| Some of the delegates, members of the arrangement committee, staff and students. |
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| Funda and me with Dr Özgür Kurt and Funda's fantastic students. |
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| The Clark couple with Funda, Özgür, and Funda's students. |
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| Drs Kevin Tan, Javed Jakoob, Philippe Poirier, Hisao Yoshikawa together with Funda and her students. |
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| A great couple in Turkish microbiology: Drs Özgür Kurt and Funda Dogruman-Al. |
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| The six prize winners (please see previous blog post for names and affiliations). |
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| Funda Dogruman-Al teaching Blastocystis diagnostic methods at the pre-Symposium workshop... |
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| The workshop included both practicals... |
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| ... and theoreticals. |
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| Some of the workshop participants. |
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| Turkish food is probably palatable to most ethnicities... |
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| The mandatory Turkish coffee did not let us down! |
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| We were absolutely spoiled with good food and drink along the way... I clearly remember how it was pouring down outside! |
