The Spring Research Festival came to Fort Detrick this year without its signature massive tent, the home of a sprawling equipment expo with dozens of booths. It came without audiences in auditoriums or gatherings around scientific posters. The community didn’t circulate between buildings for events. On the surface, it may have seemed that the festival didn’t come at all. But after being cancelled last year due to the pandemic, the annual two-day event did indeed return in a virtual format.

Every year, an event in Frederick attracts people from all over the county. Amid its semi-festive atmosphere, attendees promenade through displays showcasing collaborative projects while speakers tell true stories of impressive feats and judges award prizes for outstanding handiwork. But it’s not the Great Frederick Fair—it’s the Fort Detrick Spring Research Festival.

In a ceremony held in the Building 1520 auditorium on June 28, Col. Michael Sauer, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Operations, distributed the awards for outstanding presentations and posters at the 2018 Spring Research Festival.

Rainy weather couldn’t dampen the spirits of visitors to the 2018 Spring Research Festival, which brought together scientists from the Frederick National Laboratory (FNL), NCI at Frederick, and the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) and showcased the important research that takes place every day at Fort Detrick.

This year’s annual Spring Research Festival, scheduled for May 9 and 10, is nearly here. As usual, it is free and open to the public and promises to offer a forum for sharing scientific research and celebrating collaboration at Fort Detrick and NCI at Frederick.