1 of 8

CuttingGardens

a conference network�sharing MEG-EEG methods for the study of cognition

​

​

​

​

​

– Global Knowledge for Local Experts –

2 of 8

A simple question…

EEG and MEG methodology is evolving rapidly, and it is hard to stay up-to-date with it.

This is all the more challenging in "non-central" places lacking local expert (also informal) support.

How can we efficiently broadcast Global Knowledge and Methods, and improve Local Skills Development?

Conferences are the usual go-to places, and a very efficient way to spread knowledge and expertise, but…

3 of 8

Problems… and solutions

At conferences, we share knowledge and competence with colleagues worldwide, and take it home.

Legacy conferences in which all participants converge to a single location are:

  • expensive: long haul travel costs a lot
  • CO2-intensive: very long distance flight is prohibitively emmissive
  • exclusive: distance and language can be a strong barrier

Present-day virtual, or hybrid meetings can be networked and synchronized and are:

  • less costly: only local travel
  • less CO2-intensive: other means of transportation than plane can be considered
  • inclusive: any lab from around the world can attend the way they like and broadcast their own experience, allowing people with limited resources and more diverse horizons to join easily.

Rae et al., Br. Neurosci. Adv. 2022

4 of 8

What is CuttingGardens

The idea came up at CuttingEEG's LiveMEEG meeting in 2020

It is a mix of local conferences (aka. Gardens), with:

A common program of plenary lectures and discussions on cutting-edge topics relevant to MEG-EEG to share knowledge globally.

A number of local activities:

  • A catalog of tutorials available
  • Posters
  • Hackathons, Social events…

to build skilled expert communities locally.

Programs are under construction!

Join the committees and run YOUR OWN GARDEN!

5 of 8

What gardens can do

Gardens may display one or more of the following badges:

  • Attendee Garden
    • Broadcast the plenary lectures
    • Need: an internet connection
  • Tutorials Garden
    • Run tutorials locally and/or remotely
    • Need: a room with minimal IT support and Teaching Assistants
  • Posters Garden
    • Running a local poster session
    • Need: a room and a local community
  • Speaker Garden
    • One or several speakers give talks
    • Need: local speaker (maybe in the plenary program?)
  • Hackathon Garden
    • One or several hackathons are taking place
    • Need: a room with tables and chairs
  • Satellite Garden
    • the sky is the limit!

Note that CuttingEEG has a Code of Conduct that should be respected in all its activities.

6 of 8

Current gardens

7 of 8

Example schedule

Plenary talks

Plenary discussion

Prerecorded Demo

Live Demo

Local talk

Local Break and socials

Local Keynote

Local posters

8 of 8

An example Garden

Amari and Yin live in Atlantis.

They have local expertise in under-water-MEG analysis using the BubbleBean toolbox in Python, but know little about EEG time-frequency analysis. Their lab has 25 people, some using EEG. Numerous labs use EEG or MEG around Atlantis but have little interactions with each other.

The lab has a conference room that can sit about 150 people, and a classroom that sits 30.

Amari knows Pr. Nemo in Atlantis who published an exciting research article on under-water-MEG analysis last year, and decides to invite them to give a talk