From 29th September to 3rd October 2024, the 16th International Congress on Yeasts (ICY) took place in Cape Town at the International Convention Centre. A total of 274 participants from 41 countries attended the 5-day congress. The objective of the congress was to provide an opportunity for academics, researchers, industry scientists and students to come together and share their latest research developments and expand their networks. The Eco2Wine Doctoral Candidates (DCs) attended the congress, marking the first time all 10 DCs met in person. Six of the Eco2Wine DCs presented their projects in the form of posters, which was a great opportunity to increase the visibility of their work and spark discussion within the scientific community.

On the first day, participants were welcomed with a performance by South African singer-songwriter Tracey Carter. Professor Florian Bauer, congress chair and Eco2Wine Principal Investigator at Stellenbosch University, officially opened the congress. Over the course of five days, multiple themes on yeast were explored and divided into breakout sessions to allow participants to attend and interact with individuals who aligned with their research interests. Professor Ileana Vigentini, Eco2Wine Project Leader, delivered a keynote presentation on “Distinctive genetic landscape of Georgian wine yeasts: insights from molecular characterization and comparative genomics”.

“The congress was a perfect blend of professional duty and delightful escapade; I believe all of us learnt something new while having fun”, said DC Aubrey Lee. “It was great to finally meet all the DCs face-to-face after all the online interactions we had for the past months.” On the fourth day, the ICY committee arranged a series of excursions for the participants to experience Cape Town, along with a formal dinner at Simon’s Restaurant. 

On the last day of the conferences, attendees were treated to a session on communicating the science of yeasts. This was the first year a session focused on science communication was included at the ICY conferences, and it reflects the increasing recognition of the field’s importance. 

The session began with Karien O’Kennedy (South Africa Wine, Eco2Wine Partner) discussing knowledge transfer within the South African wine industry. Drawing from her own professional and academic experience, Karien highlighted winemakers’ information-seeking behaviours and outlined some perceived benefits and constraints to engaging with academia and wine science research.

Marina Joubert (Stellenbosch University, Eco2Wine Principal Investigator) discussed the development of science communication as an academic field. She outlined several reasons why scientists engage with various public groups to communicate their research, including educational, economic, strategic and moral motives. Marina also emphasized the importance of trust to successful science communication and highlighted the imperative to engage diverse audiences to ensure science is just, equitable and inclusive. 

Next, the audience heard from Anna Dimitriu, a renowned artist who collaborates with scientists to create artworks using biological materials or processes. Often working hands-on in the lab, Anna detailed some of her current and previous exhibitions that involved yeasts, including “Wood Spirit – Amber Acid”, which was on display at the ICY. This sculptural necklace showcases Pichia pastoris, a yeast that has been modified to feed on methanol and assist in producing sustainable nylon fabrics. 

Finally, contemporary artist Alex May shared his development of “algorithmic photography”, a technique that allows for the representation of a series of discrete moments in time in a single image. He has used this technique to document scientists in the lab, capturing aspects of the scientific process that most publics don’t get to see firsthand. 

The session concluded with the speakers forming a panel and answering questions from the audience. These discussions spotlighted the importance of engaging public audiences in the communication process, accurately capturing scientific uncertainties in communication and using creative techniques to draw audiences into the beauty of science. 

The 16th ICY was a productive experience for the Eco2Wine DCs, as it allowed them to share their projects and interact with other researchers while having a wonderful experience in Cape Town. “This marks the first visit to South Africa for most of us. The congress definitely helped create an unforgettable memory of this rainbow nation. We are truly grateful to the European Horizon for funding our projects and the opportunity to attend this congress for the international experience and exposure”, added DC María Vázquez Fernández.