I really enjoyed my time at GECCO and am very grateful for the chance to attend it. Although I knew quite a few attendees in advance through my home university and the involvement with some workshops, it was nice to get to know even more people through the scholarship. I’m already planning papers with the newly established contacts, making GECCO a great experience for me including a best paper award.

Looking back, receiving the scholarship and attending GECCO was definitely a great first step into the EC research community. Because of this great experience, I am hoping to attend GECCO again next year and am planning to hold another student workshop there.