NetPlace serves as a welcoming space where researchers can share their work, discuss challenges, and build connections. A place that fosters interaction, collaboration, and growth for students and early-career scientists navigating the multidisciplinary field of network science. As a community of early-career scientists, we aim to support each other through the ups and downs of academic life, from research questions to career development, from mental health to work-life balance.

Our initiatives include community events at NetSci conference series and other activities that bring together early-career researchers to exchange ideas, build connections, and share experiences. From scientific discussions to social and interactive formats, we create opportunities that strengthen the network science community. We are committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, and the voices of underrepresented groups, making network science accessible to all.

Our mission is twofold: to empower young researchers with tools, mentorship, and opportunities for collaboration, and to shape a more inclusive and supportive future for the field.

Whether through engaging events, thought-provoking panels, or career-building workshops, NetPlace is your place to grow as a network scientist.

NetPlace began as a response to the challenges of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Launched in late 2020 by a group of researchers in London, it initially focused on creating a virtual community for young scientists in network science and complexity. Originally, the organization’s name was NetPLACE, standing for Networks, PhD Life, And Complexity. By early 2022, it evolved into a structured series of bi-weekly online seminars designed to connect early-career researchers worldwide.

Over the years, NetPlace has grown beyond its origins, expanding its reach worldwide. Key milestones include organizing panels at prestigious conferences like NetSci and NetSciX and addressing critical issues such as academic writing, mental health in academia, and career development. The seminar series ran until 2025, creating a lasting archive of talks and discussions that helped connect young researchers across the globe. Our online presence has flourished with recorded seminars, blogs, and a YouTube channel, allowing us to share insights with a broader audience.

In 2024, NetPLACE merged with SYNS (Society of Young Network Scientists) to unite two communities dedicated to supporting early-career researchers, under the banner of NetPlace. This merger combined SYNS’s established connection with NetSci and NetPlace’s organizational structure and online activities, enhancing our capacity to serve a global network of young scientists.

Today, NetPlace is a vibrant and active community. Through in-person events, community initiatives, and collaborations, we continue to provide a place where young researchers can share ideas, gain support, and shape the future of network science together.