Symposium 2025

The COMBINE STUDENT SYMPOSIUM is back in 2025 and will be held at the Adelaide Oval!

Date: 24th November 2025

Location: Adelaide Oval

Registrations are now closed!

To access discounted member tickets, you need to have a valid ABACBS membership at the time of registration ($20 for students). You can manage your ABACBS membership through the ABACBS website. Visit the conference website here for more details.

You can also apply for a travel award here This award is now closed!

Keynote Speaker:

Karin Kassahn

  • Head of Technology Advancement Unit, SA Pathology; Affiliate Professor, Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide
  • Speaker profile

Career Panel Speakers:

Jo Mcentyre

Chelsea Mayoh

Amit Kumar

Karin Kassahn

  • Head of Technology Advancement Unit, SA Pathology; Affiliate Professor, Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide
  • Speaker profile

Tips for Cheaper Travel to Adelaide

Travelling to the COMBINE Symposium and/or ABACBS Conference this year? Here’s some tips for an affordable trip to the event of the year!

Accommodation near the conference venue*

Accommodation Type Approx time to Adelaide Oval (transport method)
Base Camp Hostel Hostel 15 mins (bus), 24 mins (walk)
Tequila Sunrise Hostel Adelaide Hostel 14 mins (bus), 17 mins (walk)
YHA Adelaide Central Hostel 14 mins (bus), 17 mins (walk)
Comfort Inn & Suites Sombrero Motel 20-30 mins (bus)
Adelaide Inn Hotel 8 mins (bus), 18 mins (walk)
Mile End Hotel Hotel 20 mins (train)
Walkers Arms Hotel Hotel 21 mins (bus)
Adelaide Paringa Hotel 9 mins (bus), 12 mins (walk)
Econo Lodge North Adelaide Hotel 9 mins (bus), 24 mins (walk)
Adelaide Riviera Hotel Hotel 13 mins (bus/tram), 15 mins (walk)
Comfort Hotel Adelaide Meridien Hotel 9 mins (bus), 24 mins (walk)
Aspen Holidays Adelaide Caravan Park 6-person Cabin 23 mins (bus), 31 mins (walk)

* We have not included privately listed accommodation (e.g., properties on Airbnb, Stayz and individual houses/apartments on Booking.com). The list is not exhaustive, just some suggestions 🙂

Tips for finding discounts on accommodation

  • Consider booking through budget travel websites for discounts and deals
  • Holiday rental sites:
    Stayz and
    VRBO,
    Airbnb
  • Budget accommodation sites:
    Hostelworld,
    Wotif,
    Booking.com,
    Expedia
  • Price comparison:
    Trivago
  • If you have used a price comparison website, or Google Hotels, it is often cheapest to book directly through the hotel’s website, or to book by calling the hotel.
  • You may already be a member of a company that offers travel discounts or allows you to book using points:
    • Motoring clubs (e.g., RAA, RACV, NRMA, RACQ, RAC)
    • Airlines (e.g., Qantas, Virgin Australia)
    • Banks/Credit Cards (e.g., Commbank, Amex)
    • Rewards Programs (e.g., Flybuys)
  • We recognise this won’t be the case for many, but if you have the option to stay with a group and split costs, this is often the most affordable option.

Transport

  • Adelaide’s public transport system is run by Adelaide Metro.
  • Buses to and from the city centre run regularly, and you can pay for these either with a credit/debit card or a Metro Card.
  • We also have a small number of tram and train lines.
  • Bus fares: A one-way bus fare costs $2.60 – $4.55. A single public transport fare lasts 2 hours (additional rides within this time frame will be free). Learn more about fares here.
  • Adelaide airport is a 15 minute drive from the city centre. There are two bus lines running frequently between the airport and the city. Standard bus fares apply for the airport lines.
  • Adelaide has two free city bus lines, and a free tram zone:
    • Tram travel is free in the city centre (but note there are just two lines)
    • The 99C (Clockwise) and 99A (Anticlockwise) free buses can transport you around the CBD
    • The 98C and 98A free buses link the 99A/C route with North Adelaide

    Refer to this map for all the free routes on offer

  • If you’re staying outside the CBD, then it’s worth checking whether you’re on a bus/train/tram route using the Adelaide Metro website or Google Maps. Some trips may require 2-3 buses.

2025 COMBINE Symposium Committee

The organising committee is composed of volunteer students from across the country, and across a variety of research disciplines.

Conference chairs:

 
  • George Bouras – University of Adelaide;Basil Hetzel Institute
  • Muneeza Maqsood – University of South Australia; Centre for Cancer Biology

Committee members:

  • Bethany Cross – University of Adelaide; School of Biological Sciences
  • Sehaj Dhariwal – University of Adelaide; The Kids Research Institute; Black Ochre Data Labs
  • Malvika Kharbanda – SAiGENCI
  • Galen Pereira – SAiGENCI
  • Yen-Kai Chen – Flinders University
  • Selin Cildir – University of South Australia
  • Alli Foster – The Kids Research Institute
  • Taha Osman – SAiGENCI
  • Holly Massacci – The Kids Research Institute
  • Sam Davis – University of Queensland
  • Oliver Hughes – University of Queensland
  • Tayla Albertini – University of South Australia; Centre for Cancer Biology
  • Aayushi Notra – University of South Australia; Centre for Cancer Biology

For any enquiries please email symposium@combine.org.au.

See our past symposiums here.