The Population Genetics Group (or PopGroup) is a conference centered on population and evolutionary genetics and has existed since 1968. It has become an international event, an unmissable rendez-vous for many scientists. Maintaining its standing as both inspiring and collegiate, PopGroup is often the first conference at which many postgraduate students present their work. Having mostly been held in the UK, there have been only two exceptions, the 1991 event held in Leiden and this year, where it will once again be held on mainland Europe, in Lille.