March 2013 - Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine

MPEC 2012 FEATUREAn OxfordexperienceChris Gibson, Steve Evans, SteveKeevil and George Ntentas lookback on the success of MPEC 2012and the opportunities provided toIPEM members in all specialistareas, at all levels and in all thecountries of the worldFor many years IPEM has followed theprinciple of rotating the venue for our annualconference around centres in the UK, andindeed further afield. For MPEC 2012 thechosen venue was Oxford, and the OrganisingCommittee felt that the arrangements should, as far aspossible, provide delegates with the ‘Oxford experience’.Image © Andrei Nekrassov/ShutterstockLocation and accommodationThere are plenty of hotels and conference venues outsideOxford city centre, but these are all fairly similar tofacilities found elsewhere in the country and would nothave provided the distinctive experience that we werehoping for. The venue chosen was the ExaminationSchools, in the heart of the historic area of the city. Thisprovided a large lecture theatre, three additional theatresand an exhibition and refreshment space all within thesame building.Accommodation for delegates was available in threeOxford colleges (New College, Oriel College and ExeterCollege), all of which were within walking distance ofthe main venue. The Examination Schools building is afine example of the best Victorian architecture and itopened in 1881.The architect paid equal attention to the interior,employing marble inlay on the staircases (bought inRome on his honeymoon!), and even re-usingChristopher Wren’s pulpit from the old Divinity Schoolas the Examiner’s throne in the South School.ProgrammeThe conference was strengthened by the decision toinclude the IPEM Biennial Radiotherapy Physicsmeeting, which immediately provided a solid core to thescientific programme, and guaranteed strong interestfrom both delegates and exhibitors. Partnerships werealso established with BNMS, with a joint session on thefinal day of MPEC leading into the BNMS autumn ‰SCOPE | MARCH 2013 | 11