The David Miller Travel Bursary Award aims to give early career plant scientists or horticulturists the opportunity of travel in connection with their horticultural careers. Carolina Gomez Ramirez was awarded one of the 2026 David Miller Travel Bursaries to attend the International Society of Chemical Ecology (ISCE) Annual Meeting 2026. Read her report below.
"During the meeting, I presented the main outcomes of my PhD research, which focuses on plant–pollinator interactions, floral scent diversity, and the ecological processes shaping plant reproductive traits. My talk covered interactions between co-flowering plant species and bumblebee pollinators, with particular focus on floral scent as a key trait involved in pollinator attraction. I was honoured to receive the Crystal-Clear Presentation Prize in recognition of my talk, a meaningful acknowledgement of my work that gave me great encouragement at this final stage of my PhD.
"The wider scientific programme further enriched my understanding of the ecological and evolutionary processes shaping floral traits. I learned how pollinators can drive divergence in floral scent bouquets, potentially contributing to early stages of flower diversification, and how herbivory and elevated temperatures can reduce floral scent production through tradeoffs between attraction, defence, and metabolic stress. I also gained valuable insights into the use of plant-produced volatiles for crop protection, particularly push-pull technology, which uses plant chemicals to mediate plant–insect interactions and reduce pest damage. These ideas were especially valuable as I look to build a career in plant chemical ecology.
"In addition to presenting my research and attending excellent talks, I took part in the postconference workshops, where I learned about the analysis of plant metabolites using LC-MS and GC-MS approaches. These workshops gave me important conceptual and practical tools to continue developing my career in plant science and chemical ecology. The training was particularly valuable because it expanded my knowledge beyond floral volatile analysis and introduced me to broader approaches for studying plant chemistry and metabolomics.
"As I am now nearing the end of my PhD, this was my last conference as a PhD student, which made attending ISCE 2026 especially meaningful. It allowed me not only to share the main outcomes of my doctoral research but also to expand my research network and build meaningful connections with fellow chemical ecologists, plant scientists, and researchers working on related topics. I particularly enjoyed connecting with researchers from South Korea, the United States, Germany, and many other countries. Thanks to this experience, I am now also part of the chemical ecology network in my home country, Colombia, which is especially meaningful to me. These interactions broadened the landscape of opportunities for future research and opened up valuable possibilities for collaboration and professional development. I am returning to the UK feeling incredibly grateful and satisfied with everything I gained from this experience.
"The financial support provided by the David Miller Travel Bursary was pivotal in facilitating my participation. It enabled me to cover travel-related expenses and ensured that I could fully immerse myself in the conference experience. Thanks to this support, I was able to benefit from the scientific programme, attend specialised training workshops, receive feedback on my research, and take advantage of the excellent learning and networking opportunities offered by the congress.
"Overall, attending the International Society of Chemical Ecology Annual Meeting 2026 was an incredibly insightful and transformative experience for both my research and my professional growth. I am excited to continue my research journey with the knowledge, skills, connections, and experiences gained through this conference. I am deeply grateful to SCI and the Horticulture Group Committee for their generous support through the David Miller Travel Bursary Award."
Carolina Gomez Ramirez
PhD student
Durham University
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