In June 2024, the biennial meeting of the European Neuro-Ophthalmology Society (EUNOS) was held at De Doelen in Rotterdam. Over 420 specialists in ophthalmology and neurology from over 49 countries gathered to share the latest breakthroughs and scientific insights. It was the first time the meeting took place in the Netherlands, and Congress by Design was asked to work alongside the Local Organising Committee (LOC), whose members were based partly in London and partly in Groningen.
420
Participants
Live
Format
3 days
Duration
Rotterdam
Location
By design
The programme was shaped around four captivating symposia in the areas of diagnostics, artificial intelligence, experiments, and new medications. Central to this was also the perspective of patients with ADOA, a rare hereditary eye disease that causes a fragmented perception of the world. Through an enormous piece of artwork, EUNOS participants were given a glimpse into the patients’ prespective of this disease. . In addition to the main symposia, we also devised several educational and social activities to enrich the participants' experience. This included the EUNOS Young Scientific Investigators session, which provided a platform for early-career researchers to showcase their research. There was also a Rapid Fire session, where the thirteen best poster presenters could pitch their stories in a 6-minute presentation. For a sporty and connecting element, there was a harbour run, allowing participants to experience the city of Rotterdam while running. This boosted energy and camaraderie.
Result
Partnership is a key pillar of Congress by design, and the relationship with the LOC underscored this. Even from a distance, a strong trust was built through good communication and a clear division of tasks. This ensured that the preparations and organisation went very smoothly. For this edition, we focused on further professionalising the appearance, something that will ensure recognisability and professionalism in the long term. We configured our platform EventsAir for EUNOS to be very user-friendly for submitting abstracts and also linking to external parties such as printers and publishers. From a sustainability perspective, it is important for every association to encourage young researchers to be active. Therefore, there was also a well-attended Trainee Oasis, where young professionals could meet each other. Everyone looks back on a substantive, energetic, and connecting congress, which EUNOS will certainly build on at the next edition in Milan.
