Think BIG, Stay Connected: A Regional Immunology Meeting as a Durable Model for Scientific Community Building.

Abstract

Regional scientific meetings occupy a distinctive but underexamined position within the research ecosystem. Smaller and more accessible than national congresses, yet broader in scope than institutional seminar programm, they provide opportunities for repeated interactions across institutions, career stages, and research domains. The Brisbane Immunology Group (BIG) meeting is one of the longest-running and most influential regional meetings associated with the Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology (ASI), providing a focal point for immunology researchers across Queensland, Australia, and beyond. This article examines the BIG meeting as a case study of a regional immunology community that has sustained scientific engagement, mentoring, and collaboration for 25 years. Drawing on historical records and thematic analysis of interviews with organizers, senior contributors, and recent attendees, we identify six characteristics that have contributed to the longevity and impact of the meeting: accessibility, cross-institutional ownership, intergenerational participation, social integration, programmatic continuity with adaptive innovation, and deliberate recognition of community contributions. We argue that BIG functions not merely as an annual scientific meeting but as a regional community of practice that supports scientific collaboration, professional identity formation, and leadership development. The BIG experience provides broader lessons regarding the role of regional meetings in strengthening scientific communities, supporting future scientific leaders and sustaining disciplinary vitality.