Report on the 19th Congress of the European Society of Biomechanics 25-28th August, Patras Greece
The 19th Congress of the European Society of Biomechanics was held in the congress and Cultural Center of the University of Patras, Greece, from August 25th until August 28, 2013. It was organized by the team of the Laboratory of Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering of the University of Patras, headed by Professor Yannis Missirlis.
Being the inaugural Congress, as an annual event, in the midst of the so-called economic crisis, in one of the countries, most hardly hit by this «crisis», managed to attract 550 delegates from 46 countries, from all 5 continents.
In the morning of Sunday, August 25, 2 courses were held: One on Nanomechanics of Cells-tissues-Biomaterials, and the other on Wavelet Analysis of Biological Signals, well attended and positively evaluated.
The following 3 days, 66 sessions, with 338 oral presentations, in 6 parallel venues were communicated (with only 3 last minute cancellations).
Two days of viewing, discussing (with beer and snacks!) 166 posters added to the overall scientific input and get-to know each other, especially young biomechanicians.
The plenary speakers were exceptional in transmitting their overview and state-of-art lectures to large audiences. Professors Evan Evans (Canada/USA), Peter Kohl (UK) and Reinhard Blickhan (Germany) provided everyone with excellent food-for-thought on the role of biomechanics across many scales.
The plenary sessions on students’ award, the Huiskes’ medal to Professor John Currey with his provocative lecture, the Best Doctoral thesis lecture, all added to the quality of the Congress as a whole.
The 10 exhibitions stands were frequented by many interested delegates as well.
Last, but no least, the social events during the Congress need mentioning:
The opening ceremony on Sunday evening started with a brief historical note on biomechanics by Yannis Missirlis, a lecture on the Role of Ancient Theaters by Martin Kreeb and a superb concert by the Plucked String Orchestra of the Patras Municipality, followed by a reception.
The well attended «Students’ evening» was appraised by everybody and provided a forum for getting to know each other, entertainment, dancing, and «biomechanical exercise of solid and liquid ingestion».
The Congress dinner took place in the terrace of a restaurant overlooking Patras, and was the forum for all the awards presentations.
During the Congress the delegates enjoyed freshly cooked Mediterranean food, drinks and coffee breaks both indoors and outdoors, giving them the necessary ingredients to continue attending the subsequent scientific program.
Finally, all the abstracts will be uploaded in the society’s webpage www.esbiomech2013.org
While a gallery of photos is to be found in the Congress’s webpage
