The Physics and Chemistry of Microfluidics Gordon Research Conference took place 4 – 9 September in Tuscany, Italy. The event is a premier international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, while prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages.

The subtopic of the conference was Microscale Systems: From Physical Phenomena to Biological Applications, with a program comprising a diverse range of speakers and discussion leaders, a wide range of institutions and organizations from all over the world, all interested in the latest developments in the field.

Prof. Fabiana Arduini, University of Rome Tor Vergata (UNITOV) took part in the conference and presented on "Paper-Based Electrochemical (Bio)sensors as Smart and Sustainable Microfluidic Devices", based on unpublished examples from RELIANCE taken from the conducted research on a  microfluidics set-up for virus detection to evaluate the efficiency of the antimicrobial nanocoatings within the project. In addition to the primary talks, the conference featured poster sessions from scientists with various level of professional development. The free time in the afternoons and communal meals allowed for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field. The remote location where the five conference days were held at, fostered a sense of camaraderie and created scientific communities striving for lasting collaborations and friendships.