There are events that redefine the value of what you do, and this symposium was an unforgettable moment for us and the entire community. At a time when the conference sector favored the safety of going online, we chose to be bold, designing a complex hybrid format to overcome travel restrictions still active in many countries. Partnering with Forte Village, we created a controlled “safety bubble” at the entrance, offering attendees an extraordinary breath of fresh air: the freedom to experience the conference mask-free. It became the symposium of warm embraces, rediscovered smiles, and emotional gratitude from researchers thanking us for restoring a sense of normalcy to scientific exchange. Despite the context, the numbers were outstanding: 354 total participants (including 139 online), an impressive Austrian delegation of 34 scientists, and a program packed with 270 presentations, 18 posters, and 15 workshops.
Determined to put human interaction and social connection back at the center, we enriched the program by introducing the brand-new Active Lab format – hands-on workshops designed for fully immersive, experiential learning. Carrying this philosophy into our social program, we created a unique line-up of activities. Delegates raced in a Go-kart rally, danced under the stars at a vibrant beachside Fluo Party, and took part in physical and mental wellness sessions where academics themselves turned into personal trainers for their peers – leading Pilates classes, join-the-staff morning runs, beachfront Functional Training, and Padel tournaments.
