3rd ISCB Asian Student Council Symposium: from virtual roots to in-person networks

Abstract

The International Society for Computational Biology Student Council (ISCB-SC) launched the Asian Student Council Symposium (ASCS) in 2022 to provide a continental platform that complements existing ISCB-SC initiatives by bringing together students and early-career researchers (ECRs) in computational biology and bioinformatics across Asia. The third edition, ASCS2024, marked the symposium series’ first edition with an in-person component and was held in Okinawa, Japan. ASCS2024 brought together participants from multiple countries to share research, build networks, and strengthen regional community ties. The scientific program combined virtual workshops covering topics in metagenomics, small-molecule analysis, and bacterial genome assembly, followed by the symposium featuring two keynote lectures, student and ECR presentations, and a panel discussion on global collaborations and data accessibility. While the event was successful in terms of scientific exchange and community building, notable challenges related to finance, logistics, time zones, and communication were encountered. This editorial summarizes the format and outcomes of ASCS2024 and reflects on organizational lessons, aiming to inform future ASCS editions and thereby strengthen the young Asian computational biology community.