Diversity, Discovery, and Dialogue: My Journey at WCPG 2025 in Mexico

I attended WCPG 2025 in Cancún, Mexico, to present the first fruits of my postdoctoral research with the POP-GEM lab of Prof. Dr. Roseann Peterson, in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Hanna van Loo. I was honored to be selected for a poster presentation on the second day and had a wonderful time connecting with peers and fellow researchers in my field. Presenting my work on inclusive quality control measures in seemingly homogeneous datasets which generated valuable feedback and new perspectives.

Poster sessions are incredibly dynamic. They allowed me to network with researchers from around the world, gain insights into the latest research, and see a broad overview of the main directions in the field. Many posters showcase preliminary results, providing an exciting glimpse into ongoing projects and emerging themes.

This year’s conference was held in Cancún, Mexico. While the conference center might seem typical at first glance, the choice of location was significant: it was the first time WCPG took place in Central America. Latin American and Central American genetics and genomics research were prominently represented, giving me a valuable introduction to new domains of genetic studies that I am now transitioning into.

One highlight that stood out to me was learning that some local populations in Central America are genetically more distinct from each other than many European-like or Asian-like populations are among themselves. This finding underlines the necessity for more inclusive genetic methods—ones that can account for greater admixture and the continuity found along the ancestry spectrum. I’m genuinely excited to be part of a field working toward making our genetic discoveries translational for everyone.

As a remote member of the POP-GEM lab, the conference was also a wonderful opportunity to finally meet colleagues in person and catch up with my supervisor.

Lastly, I was fortunate to arrive in Mexico a little earlier, which gave me the opportunity to explore the country. Visiting one of the seven world wonders and immersing myself in its fascinating history served as a powerful reminder of the importance of approaching other cultures and people with patience, openness, and a sincere desire to learn rather than to judge. This philosophy—of curiosity and respect—is something I also strive to embody in my research, and I am proud to contribute to work informed by these values.

Disclosure: draft and final edits by Jolien Rietkerk, restructuring edits by ChatGPT/ChatUMCG.