It has been a few weeks since the close of the 2026 Annual Meeting in Cape Town, and many of us have now dispersed across the globe—some returning home, others continuing to explore the extraordinary continent of Africa, as I am fortunate to be doing myself.
My own journey has already delivered unforgettable moments: encountering my first lion family in the wild and, rather unexpectedly, having my cabin visited—and partially invaded—by a troop of baboons.
Beyond these adventures, we leave Cape Town energized and inspired. We return home filled with new magnetic resonance science, strengthened collaborations, and many newly formed friendships. Most importantly, our community has deepened its connection with a new continent and its rapidly growing MR community.
Forty-three invited speakers from across Africa shared powerful insights into both the challenges and opportunities of MR imaging on the continent. We learned about the realities of limited imaging access but also about the immense promise of AI in linking African disease expertise with global imaging knowledge and innovation.
Engineering advances once again demonstrated how quickly our field is evolving. We saw technologies that now allow imaging while sitting and moving within MR scanners. Low-field MRI continues to expand access to non-invasive imaging in remote and underserved regions, while high-field developments are opening remarkable new windows into mesoscale image resolution.
One of the meeting’s most memorable highlights was the Mansfield Lecture by Richard Bowtell, celebrating the often-unsung heroes behind MR innovation. His presentation captivated all of us—physicists and clinicians alike—and reminded us why MR physics continues to inspire wonder across disciplines.
Thank you to everyone who continues to advance the science and application of magnetic resonance in medicine. Your dedication, curiosity, and collaboration are what make this community so extraordinary.
Warm regards,
Your President (enjoying the wildlife of Botswana)
