The European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG) was founded in 1967 as a professional organisation for members working in genetics in clinical practice, research and education. The Society seeks the integration of scientific research and its implementation into clinical practice and the education of specialists and the public in all areas of medical and human genetics. The Society works to do this through many approaches, including educational sessions at the annual conference; training courses in general and specialist areas of genetics; an online resource of educational materials (EuroGEMS); and a mentorship scheme. The ESHG Education Committee is implementing new approaches to expand the reach of its educational activities and portfolio. With changes in technology, appreciation of the utility of genomics in healthcare and the public’s and patients’ increased awareness of the role of genomics, this review will summarise how the ESHG is adapting to deliver innovative educational activity.

Human Genetics is a rapidly expanding field at the intersection of science and medicine, which aims to understand the mechanisms involved in the functioning of the human body.The search for the molecular basis of human health and the study of traits transmitted from parents to children gave rise to the field of Medical Genetics less than half a century ago [1]. This relatively young discipline is of great importance for diagnosing and understanding human diseases, predicting a possible risk of recurrence, and developing therapeutic strategies. Human Genetics comprises a scientific field with fundamental or translational research units and a medical field including Clinical Genetics and diagnostic laboratories (cytogenetics, biochemical and molecular genetics) [2].Young geneticists (YG) face difficulties in accessing training and may feel professionally isolated due to the small number of peers at a local level. Although the use of the internet has greatly improved the cross-border dissemination of knowledge and data, human and technical resources vary considerably around the world leading to inequalities in training and practice. In addition, rapidly changing technologies have led to a widening generational gap between young and senior professionals [3]. YG strongly felt the need for an online community that could: promote human genetics to young people, connect isolated professionals, encourage ambitious collaborations, reduce inequalities and the generational gap.

The European Society of Human Genetics-Young Committee (ESHG-Y) aims to support young human geneticists by developing strategies and programs for better education and creating a strong network in all European countries. In this report, we present the ESHG-Y projects conducted since its conception. We organized the educational sessions at the ESHG Annual Conference, the European Dysmorphology Meetings, and a virtual session in collaboration with the European Board of Medical Genetics (EBMG). Also, the ESHG-Y regularly promotes relevant activities and succeeded in creating an active network of young geneticists. Our representatives have a supportive role in well-known organizations such as: ESHG Board, ESHG Scientific Program Committee, ESHG Education Committee, EBMG, ERN-Ithaca, Unique -Rare Chromosome Disorder Support group, Orphanet, EuroGEMS, MOOC BIG and more. Taking into consideration all activities and ongoing projects, we can state that the ESHG-Y successfully achieves its objectives and brings young professionals together.