The John Innes Foundation was proud to once again be the main sponsor of the Norwich and Cambridge Science Symposium (NoCaSS) in 2025 — a distinctive, early-career researcher-led conference that brings together scientists from the Norwich Research Park and the University of Cambridge.
Held over two days at the Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge University, NoCaSS 2025 welcomed 116 PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and technical staff working across plant and microbial sciences. Organised entirely by early-career researchers, the conference reflects a shared commitment — strongly aligned with the Foundation’s own values — to creating inclusive, supportive environments in which emerging scientists can share their work, build confidence and develop professional networks.
Since its founding in 2013 by Cambridge graduates and John Innes Centre PhD students, NoCaSS has become a valued fixture in the UK plant and microbial science calendar. Its bottom-up model gives early-career researchers hands-on experience of presenting talks and posters, often for the first time, helping to prepare them for future international conferences and research careers.
A platform for development and connection
The 2025 programme included research talks and flash talks, poster sessions, workshops, a keynote lecture, a career panel and a range of structured and informal networking activities. For many participants, NoCaSS provided a first opportunity to present their research to a broad academic audience and to receive constructive feedback from peers and senior colleagues.
The career panel was a particular highlight, bringing together speakers from academia, industry, policy and science communication. Participants valued the diversity of perspectives and the openness of the discussion, which offered honest insight into different career pathways and the realities of moving between sectors.
Networking was embedded throughout the event, with ice-breaker activities, poster lunches, a guided activity at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden and a conference dinner all designed to encourage meaningful interaction and the development of new collaborations between researchers from Norwich and Cambridge.
Strengthening collaboration between Norwich and Cambridge
The Norwich Research Park and the University of Cambridge share strong and complementary research strengths in plant and microbial sciences. By directly connecting early-career researchers from both communities, NoCaSS plays an important role in strengthening collaboration and sustaining long-term academic links between the two centres.
As a student-led initiative, NoCaSS also provides significant professional development opportunities for its organising committee. Committee members gain experience in securing funding, working with sponsors, reviewing abstracts and delivering a complex multi-day event — skills that will support them throughout their future careers and align closely with the Foundation’s commitment to researcher development.
JIF support and impact
NoCaSS 2025 was supported by a range of partners from across academia, industry and the wider research community. The John Innes Foundation was proud to be the principal funder, contributing around one third of the total conference funding through its long-standing partnership with the John Innes Centre.
This support helped ensure that NoCaSS remained a high-quality, accessible and inclusive conference, free to attend and led by early-career researchers themselves. Participant feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with attendees praising both the scientific quality of the programme and the welcoming, supportive atmosphere created by the organisers.
By continuing to support NoCaSS, the John Innes Foundation is investing directly in people at a pivotal stage in their careers and helping to strengthen the research ecosystem across Norwich and Cambridge. Planning is already underway for NoCaSS 2026, which will build on this success and extend these opportunities to an even wider and more diverse group of early-career researchers.
For more information about the Norwich and Cambridge Science Symposium, visit nocass.org.