A Memorable Ending: Neuroscience, Qixi Festival and the Sea Sunset
August 29, 2025
The Last Day in Belfast: Neuroscience Insights and a Sunset Journey Home
This last day of the conference left me truly impressed. At first, I thought this was just a national-level organisation, but it turned out to be much more than that. Many senior researchers attended, delivered inspiring talks, and shared career insights highly relevant to my own research. Their journeys and advice gave me a lot to reflect on for my own career development.
The morning started with Professor Charlie Stagg from the University of Oxford, who gave a fascinating talk on “Revolutionising precise neuromodulation for human motor control.” Her presentation showed how carefully targeted brain stimulation techniques can open up new ways to improve human motor control. It was not only scientific but also full of translational potential for rehabilitation and clinical applications.
Later, the conference also invited several industry partners, especially from the EEG neuroscience field. One highlight was Alison Buick from Cumulus Neuroscience, who presented their validation study “CNS-101: A validation study of multimodal digital biomarkers for longitudinal at-home use in dementia patients.” It was very interesting to see how a company integrates EEG with digital health tools, working to bring research closer to real-world healthcare applications. I found it particularly exciting because it connects directly to my interest in EEG-based systems.
At the end of the day, Professor Mark Cunningham from Trinity College Dublin gave the DIA Award lecture: “From neurons to networks: A journey through the dynamic brain.” His speech was very impressive — he shared the history of his research, the challenges, the progress, and the people he worked with along the way. It was not only about scientific achievements but also about building a career and community in neuroscience. I learned a lot from his talk, and I really hope to have the chance to work with him in the future. He is a great role model for me.
After the conference closed, I had to catch the train at 6 PM to return home. Coincidentally, today was also Qixi Festival (七夕节), known as the Chinese Valentine’s Day. It is a traditional festival that celebrates the legendary love story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, who are allowed to meet only once a year across the Milky Way.
Before heading to the train station, I wanted to buy a small gift for my fiancée Luhan. Many doll shops in Belfast were already closed by 5 PM, but luckily, I found a nice shop near Victoria Square — Mooch Belfast (Arthur Street). Since I was born in the Year of the Dog and Luhan loves dogs very much, I picked up some dog-themed gifts for her.
On the way back, when the train passed Malahide, there was a short section of railway running almost on the sea — with water stretching out on both sides. At that moment, the sun was setting, casting golden light across the waves. It was such a breathtaking scene, and I felt both peaceful and excited, rushing to get home to see Luhan.
This trip to Belfast was a wonderful experience — full of inspiration, learning, and beautiful memories. A perfect ending to the conference, and a meaningful day both professionally and personally.