OHBM 2018 in Singapore

By Csaba Orban, Valeria Kebets, Thomas Yeo on behalf of the OHBM 2018 Local Organizing Committee (LOC)

Click on image to go to the "brain-in-sinc" website

As you may have heard, OHBM 2018 will be hosted in Singapore. Come join us to learn about the latest developments in neuroimaging methodologies and applications, and to meet like-minded scientists in a highly inter-disciplinary forum. This year’s meeting will have a special focus on multimodal imaging, an LOC symposium on mapping functional connectivity to behaviors in young and aging populations, while also featuring the ever-popular educational sessions and the must-go Hackathon. You can visit our dedicated brain-in-sinc website (right), which highlights attractions in and beyond Singapore, delicious cuisine, and essential travel tips from our local volunteer group.

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Singapore River, Singapore

Singapore (aka “the Lion City”, “the Small Red Dot”) is a small island-state located in the heart of South-East Asia between Malaysia and Indonesia. Originally a small trading post under British rule in the 19th century, over the past few decades Singapore has remarkably transitioned from a third world to a first world economy. Paralleling this economic transformation, Singapore has invested heavily in its educational system, infrastructure, and biotech industry.

​Singapore has a young, but rapidly growing neuroimaging community, fostered by its collaborative ethos, investment in state-of-the-art infrastructure, and ability to attract both foreign and local scientists. The neuroimaging community is distributed across the Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience), National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine), A*STAR-NUS Clinical Imaging Research Centre (CIRC), Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology (SINAPSE), National Neuroscience Institute (NNI), Yale-NUS College and the Singapore BioImaging Consortium (SBIC).

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Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown

Situated 144 km north of the equator, Singapore is a tropical metropolis, where skyscrapers meet lush gardens and canopies, nestled between natural reserves rich with wildlife. Singapore has a uniquely diverse history, where customs, cuisine and architecture reflect Chinese, Malay, Indian and British influences. Attendees can explore Singapore’s rich cultural heritage on foot by visiting Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, originally the Town Hall of Singapore in the 19th century, the spectacular architecture of Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple in Little India or the Peranakan shophouses on Emerald Hill and in Kampong Glam. For museum lovers, Singapore offers plenty of attractions, including the Peranakan Museum, National Gallery, ArtScience Museum, National Museum of Singapore, and the Asian Civilisations Museum. Those who want to switch-off can take a stroll in the Singapore Botanic Gardens, go for a hike in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, or take the TreeTop Walk at MacRitchie Reservoir Park (click on photo below to see video).​

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Click on image to see bird's eye video of MacRitchie

Satay by the bay

​Visitors can partake in the country’s national sport: eating out, and try an unparalleled variety of foods. Singapore is famous for its hawker centres where collections of individual, often family-run, stalls offer an assortment of culinary delights at affordable rates. OHBM attendees will have the chance to experience authentic specialties such as Hainanese Chicken Rice, Laksa, Chili Crab, Kaya Toast, Satay, Sambal Sting Ray and Char Kway Teow. In 2016, Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle and Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle became the first hawker stalls in Asia to attain Michelin star status, while serving meals from S$2 (US$1.42). Singapore also offers an impressive range of fine-dining options, covering local, Asian, European and Fusion cuisines. Visitors can pair their meal with breathtaking views of the city in one of Singapore’s many high-rise restaurants, such as the Equinox Restaurant on the 70th floor of the Swissôtel, Cé La Vi on the top of Marina Bay Sands, or Level33, the world’s highest microbrewery, overlooking Marina Bay.

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Getting around the city is easy, due to its modern, efficient and affordable transportation system. The conference will be held at Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, which is located near prime attractions of Singapore such as Esplanade, Gardens by the Bay, National Gallery and Raffles Hotel (where Singapore Sling was invented). Singapore should be easily accessible for all conference attendees, as Changi Airport is the 2nd most connected airport in Asia, serving flights to 380 cities, in 90 countries.

Remember to submit your abstracts by Dec 15th, 2017 at 11:59 pm EST. We look forward to welcoming you in the Lion City in June, 2018!