Tech solutions increase IMC19 participation | 19th International Microscopy Congress 2018
Fast facts
Event: 19th International Microscopy Congress 2018 (IMC19)
Date: 9-14 September, 2018
Venue: ICC Sydney
Participants: 2,800
Challenges:
With multiple programs running concurrently across several venue spaces during the 19th International Microscopy Congress (IMC19), maintaining high engagement across the entire event was critical. Altogether, 1,400 speakers and presenters were scheduled to present in one of 12 different rooms, before 2,800 participants.
Further, the Congress was expecting its biggest-ever exhibition with a sold-out show floor, so it was important to encourage meaningful interactions between delegates and sponsors/ exhibitors would help vendors achieve maximum ROI and meet their objectives.
Solutions:
In a series of ‘firsts’ for IMC, a new technology solution was implemented using software platforms eOrganiser (abstract and program management), eMobilise (mobile app) and ePresenter (digital posters).
eOrganiser was critical to the program planning for IMC19, managing abstract submission and reducing time spent scheduling with its ability to signal any clashes. Among its many other capabilities, eMobilise hosted the program and offered delegates the opportunity to plan their own conference schedule, while also acting as a communications tool between all participants with a news feed and messaging capability. Introducing digital posters to IMC for the first time with ePresenter gave delegates an interactive tool to view the submitted work by presenters.
Clever use of the exhibition space maximised engagement opportunities. The digital poster terminals were strategically placed around the floor, as were ‘theatrettes’ to host mini oral presentations – another IMC19 first – to encourage foot traffic to all corners. That was complemented by a dedicated hard-copy poster area showcasing a select body of work, giving participants more conversation-starters.
Outcomes:
The initiatives worked, with 100% of sponsors and exhibitors interviewed saying their objectives were met. The Congress app was downloaded by 71% of attendees with 83% of them actively using it throughout, including features such as program bookmarks (27,000) and abstract download requests (10,000). Altogether digital posters attracted 17,504 views.
We wanted people to come to Sydney and leave after a week knowing they’d been to really top-class Congress. We also wanted a conference that is obviously in a series, this is no 19, that we wanted to be contemporary, so we’ve done a lot of work with apps and ePosters, and a whole lot of electronic delivery into the conference so people really see this as a 21st century conference.”
Paul Munro, co-Chair, IMC19 Congress 2018
