The Art of Failure Symposium

We, nine doctoral researchers of the Charité University, aim to organize a symposium for early career scientists working in the field of regenerative medicine. By covering aspects of body failures, its limited ability to regenerate and potential therapeutic approaches, we want to encourage participants to present not only successful stories but also the failures behind their results. We will then question and debate our fears of failure to embrace them as essential elements of science.

We want to attract early career researchers from around the world to discuss with us the newest developments in regenerative medicine and their setbacks. Renowned senior scientists are invited to share valuable insights into their research and lacks of success to give the junior scientists a real chance to network with experts and gain valuable experiences. Nowadays, science often bypasses reporting on negative results, as they appear as failures. By including the discussion about failed experiments, we want to call for a more open approach to failures in science.

We aim to organize a fruitful conference with a unique focus mainly attracting early career scientists, besides advanced researchers. The key point will be the failure in science, usually a hushed-up topic in the successful view of research. This is a provocative and stimulating uncommon conference design, which ordinarily only highlights the shiniest results of experienced researchers. Therefore, young scientists will have a unique opportunity to catch the vital spark for future steps.

Participation fees, sponsoring partners and third party research fundings will support our symposium. However, we wish to charge only moderate participation fees easily affordable for young people, to encourage their enthusiastic participation. To foster strong networking, we plan to provide tasty pastries and smoking-hot coffee during recharging coffee breaks. Unfortunately, we cannot afford this with our current budget. Hence, the successful funding will guarantee successful networking and exchanges during the event.