During the COVID-19 crisis, social distancing measures have not only impeded imaging research progress but also severely limited opportunities for contact with coworkers and collaborators and for making new connections. Most PhD students and postdocs with imaging-related projects have spent the past year negotiating pandemic-induced changes to their research plans whilst working in isolation. None of us has attended an in-person scientific meeting in the past year, and as a result we all have missed out on the social activities, informal networking, and reunions with colleagues that such events offer.

To help make up for the lack of social contact with fellow imaging researchers under remote working, we are pleased to introduce a monthly SINAPSE Virtual Happy Hour to enable socialising and networking through an online platform whilst anticipating the eventual lifting of lockdown restrictions.

Our inaugural Virtual Happy Hour will be held at 4:30pm on Friday 16 April. All SINAPSE members are warmly welcomed to attend. To receive event details, visit http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/SINAPSE-SOCIAL, click on ‘Subscribe or Unsubscribe’, then enter your name and e-mail address and click on ‘Subscribe (SINAPSE-SOCIAL)’.