This year's Keynote Speaker is Dr. Orion Weiner!
And the Scientist/Artist is Mol Mir!

Orion Weiner is a leading researcher in quantitative cell biology whose laboratory seeks to define the molecular logic of complex cell behaviors— how cells go from sets of interacting molecules to the emergent properties of living systems. His group focuses on three fundamental questions: how individual cells control their shape and movement, how groups of cells share information to make collective decisions, and how signaling and mechanical forces integrate to guide cell fate during early mammalian development. His lab studies a diversity of cell types and behaviors, often pairing biosensors to visualize dynamic molecular activities with precision tools to control the regulators of these behaviors within living cells. His team also employs synthetic approaches, including optogenetics and de novo protein design, to understand cellular self-organization. His research philosophy emphasizes that transformative science happens at interfaces, and his lab frequently adapts tools and concepts from other disciplines, fostering cross‑pollination among projects and supporting collaborations with other labs in the field.