Proposal - 17th EMC 2020 - Catania

A proposal to host
th
The 17 European
Microscopy Congress
Catania
September 20-25, 2020
he Italian microscopy community would be pleased
Tto host the next edition of the EMC 2020 again in
Italy after 52 years.
We take this chance to mention Italian great love for
microscopy as the history already has evidenced, starting
from Galileo Galilei (1565-1642), who was the rst
scientist dealing with the aberration problem in the eld
of optics, and continuing with Vasco Ronchi who
discovered, in 1923, the Ronchi test, also called
Ronchigram, well known to all microscopists since it is
now used to measure and correct the spheric aberration
in a modern microscope.
Nowadays there are many Italian microscopists that
continue to give a signicant scientic contribution to
such a wonderful discipline. In Catania is located the
Italian center for Electron Microscopy called Beyond-
Nano, among the most important center in Europe,
hosted at the IMM laboratory, one of the largest research
center of the Italian National Research Council (CNR).
It would be a honor for us to welcome you in
Catania, the second-largest city in Sicily. Catania is one
of Italy's most important and ourishing cultural, artistic,
and political centers. In 1434 it witnessed the opening of
the rst University in Sicily. After the terrible earthquake in
1693, it was redesigned in the Sicilian Baroque style,
today Unesco World Heritage site. Also some of the most
signicant buildings of the Roman Empire's era are
located here. Catania is one of the most charming
seaside town of the east coast of Sicily. It has a strategic
position, near the main Sicilian touristic attractions
On overall there are 7 Unesco World Heritage sites
in Sicily, that you could get a chance to visit once here. The
Sicily is also renewed for food and last but not least the
“Etna rosso” wine has become one of the most
prestigious wine in the world.

As conference venue we have chosen the municipal
center “le Ciminiere”, a former sulphur works recently
transformed into a lively cultural center. Lecture halls,
exhibition area and meal facilities are located inside the
same conference center area distributed among three
main blocks. Exhibitors will be at the center of the
conference, allowing them to have fruitful meeting with
the delegates. To meet the needs of exhibitors, we will
plan ve days for the mounting and three days for
disassembly.
Together with our Scientic Committee we planned
7 parallel symposia on life sciences (LS), physical sciences
(PS), and analytical sciences (AS), one plenary for day,
and two poster sections for about 800 posters. At least 8
topics will be dealt during the pre-meeting workshops: in
situ, in operando, EELS Tutorial, Environmental TEM,
nano-medicine. Finally, the social dinner will be hosted
in an exclusive location, and several excursions both for
delegates and accompanying persons will be organized
during the event.
To ensure the success of the conference we
engaged the Medeacom society, partner of Sicilia
Convention Bureau. Medeacom is an outstanding PCO
(professional congress organizer), founded in 2004 and
expert in the organization of scientic congress, cultural
meeting, and events.
We are looking forward to meet you in Catania for
the EMC 2020.
Giuseppe Nicotra
Corrado Spinella
General Chairs of EMC2020-Catania

A proposal to host
th
The 17 European
Microscopy Congress
Catania
September 20-25, 2020
Presentation letter from
Prof. Elisabetta Falcieri

Catania
Catania is located on the Ionian coast of Sicily, in the south of Italy.
Catania is the second-largest city in Sicily, and the hundredth-largest city in the European Union.
Founded in 729 BC by Calcidesi, boasts a millenary history characterized by various dominations. It was a royal
residence and capital of the
Kingdom.
In the centre stands the
city’s symbol, a lava
elephant known as «Liotru»
I

Catania
In the 14th century and in to the Renaissance period,
Catania was one of Italy's most important and ourishing
cultural, artistic, and political centers.
In 1434, it witnessed the opening of the rst University
in Sicily founded by Alfonso of Aragon.

Catania
Catania today is the city rebuilt after the strong 1693 earthquake which destroyed it completely, it was
redesigned in the Sicilian Baroque style.

Catania
Catanese Baroque style has been declared a Unesco World Heritage site

Catania
The main Baroque monuments include the Cathedral , dedicated to
Saint Agatha , the Patron Saint of the city, the churches of
San Benedetto, and San Giuliano, in Crociferi street, and the Biscari
Palace, the largest baroque palace of the city.
The Fish Market in Catania is one of the most colourful in all of
Sicily. Is a special experience that you should not miss when visiting
Catania. Hustle and bustle and shouting dealers who advertise their
products provide a deep insight into the lives of the Sicilians.

Catania
The Achillian Thermal Baths are among the most signicant
buildings of the Roman Empire’s era in Catania. The structure was
excavated in the 1700s by Ignazio Paternò Prince of Biscari.
Rotunda’s Thermal Baths was construcred
between the rst and second century A.D.
and destroyed around the end of the sixth
and the early seventh century A.D. Some of
the rooms originally had marble oors and
mosaic walls decorated with frescoes.
Indirizzo Thermal Baths, dating back to
the 2nd A.D. century, are situated in the
middle of the pescheria, the picturesque
open-air sh market of Catania.

Catania
Erected in 1250 by the Emperor
Frederick II of Swabia, the Ursino Castle
was built on a promontory along the
coastline of the city.
After being fortress, it became, for shorts
periods, the residence of the
Aragon royalty.
In 1669 the lava surrounded tha castle,
covered the towers and altered the
coastline. The 1693 eartquake damaged
again the structure causing the collapse of
the southern and eastern middle towers.
Today the castle is a museum, that houses
several collections and temporary
exhibitions too.

Catania
Roman Amphitheatre is the 2nd century
grandiose Roman monument, one of the
largest in Italy, is almost entirely hidden
under modern constructions.
It is visible in part in Stesicoro square.
The area today is part of the historical centre
of the town, and was formerly used as a
necropolis. It’s part of the Graeco-Roman
Archaeological Park of Catania.
The site presented the elliptical plant.
It was built with lava stone from Etna
covered with marble and had thirty-two
rows of seats.

Catania
Etna is the largest active volcano in Europe, it has been declared a
Unesco World Heritage site and has a nature reserve: the Etna Park.

Catania
Etna Volcano
Taormina
Catania is one of the most charming seaside
town of the east coast of Sicily.
It has a strategic position, near the main Sicilian
touristic attractions.
30 Km
45 Km
Catania
65 Km
Siracusa
Catania airport is the 2nd in Italy. It is easily
reachable with direct ights from many European
cities, such as Munich, Rome, Cologne,
Manchester, Amsterdam, London, Zurich, etc.

Acitrezza
Such characteristic as to inspire the Odes of Homer for his Odyssey, Acitrezza, is a small, very charming
shing village. The landscape is dominated by the 8 faraglioni (volcanic stacks),
and lava cliffs that where formed before Etna. According to the myth of the Odyssey written by Homer,
it was the
Cyclops Polyphemus who
hurled these large boulders
at the vessels of Ulysses.
Acitrezza also hosted the setting of
the novel Malavoglia by Giovanni
Verga, the most important of
the Italian Verismo.

Taormina
Being one of the most known tourist destinations in whole Sicily, Taormina, known as
The Pearl of Mediterranean Sea, still represents one of the poshest places in the region.

UNESCO World Heritage sites in Sicily
Arab-Norman Palermo and
the Cathedral Churches
of Cefalú and Monreale, listed in 2015
Isole Eolie (Aeolian Islands),
listed in 2000
Mount Etna,
listed in 2013
Syracuse and the Rocky
Necropolis of Pantalica,
listed in 2005
Archaeological Area
of Agrigento,
listed in 1997
Late Baroque Towns
of the Val di Noto,
listed in 2002
Villa Romana del Casale,
listed in 1997

Sicilian food
Sicilian cuisine shows traces of all the cultures which established themselves on the island of Sicily over the
last two millennia. Its cuisine has a lot in common with Italian cuisine and also has Greek, Spanish, French
and Arab inuences.

Le Ciminiere Convention Center
Le Ciminiere is the municipal Catania congress and exhibition center choosen
th
for hosting the 17 EMC in 2020

Le Ciminiere Convention Center
Literally «the chimneys» this former sulphur works has been
transformed into a lively cultural center. Permanent features
include the Museo dello Sbarco, a moving reminder of the US and
British landings in Sicily in 1943, a cinema museum and a
traditional sicilian puppet theatre.
With over 30.000 sq between exhibition and congress
area, Le Ciminiere is located close to the city center.

Le Ciminiere How to reach
2 minutes walk
8 minutes by car
Bus every 5 minutes

Le Ciminiere Convention Center
Aerial photos of the convention center Le Ciminiere
Le Ciminiere is at walk distance (1.0 km)
of the city center, where the main hotels
and B&B are located .
m
Is strategically located at 200m from the
train station where there are the bus
terminals of most of the municipal
bus lines.
m
Lecture halls, exhibition area and meal
facilities are located inside the same
conference center area distributed
among three main blocks,
max 30 meter each other

Le Ciminiere Convention Center
Padiglione C1
Main Room (1.250 pax)
Room - 2 (600 pax)
Room - 3 and 4
Registration desk
Booth
Coffee area
Museum
Padiglione F1
From C1 to F1 - 1 min. walk
Room - 5 to 8
Poster
Padiglione F1
Booth
Coffee area

15 mq
Le Ciminiere Convention Center
Room 3
200 pax
P10
G20
10 mq
Pad.
C1
- Ground floor
2.500 sm
700 sm for exhibitor
B40
Main entrance
Registration desk
P7
G21
10 mq
Booth
P9
Room 2
600 pax
G22
25 mq
Room 4
120 pax
L2
G23
20 mq
Booth

Le Ciminiere Convention Center
Pad.
C1
- First floor
1.500 sm
Main Room (1.250 pax)
and Room 2 (600 pax)
are respectively intercommunicating
Area
Consolle
Booth
G28
90 mq
Main Conference Room
1.250 pax
Karaoke
P21
P37
Area
Retrogaming
G27
90 mq

Le Ciminiere Convention Center
TubeGame
Coffe area
Area
Live
Pad. F1
- Ground floor
4.000 sm
200 to 400 Poster
2.000 sm for exhibitor
Poster
Booth
Room 6
150 pax
Room 5
150 pax
Info point
Area
Firme

Le Ciminiere Convention Center
Coffe area
Pad. F1 - First floor
3.500 sm
200 to 400 Poster
1.500 sm for exhibitor
Room 7
150 pax Area Vintage
Booth
Room 8
150 pax
Poster
Room 6
120 pax

Le Ciminiere Convention Center
All the halls are already furnished with
complete audiovisual support.
Audiovisual will be provided
where needed by very
renowned company.

Le Ciminiere Convention Center
The conference center
has several spaces devoted
to refreshments.
There are areas dedicated to
bars and restaurants inside,
both indoors and outdoors.
There is the possibility of
creating coffee break area
near the halls.
There are also two industrial
kitchens available.

Catania - EMC2020 Preliminary budget
Registration fee panel, based on 2000 attending delegates and 1500 paying delegates
EMS Members
No EMS Members
Students
Life Members
Early
Regular
€ 450,00 € 550,00 € 250,00
On site
% Attendees
40% 20%
40%
Total extimated from registration fees 585.000,00

Catania - EMC2020 Preliminary budget
Registration fee includes:
- Admission to all scientic sessions;
m
- Access to the technical exhibition area;
m
- Congress materials (congress bag, nal program, access badge)
m
- Coffee breaks, welcome cocktail, farewell cocktail.
f
Registration fee will not include:
f
- Lodging (and its booking), the participants will be responsible
for booking their own accommodation;
m
- Lunches and the conference dinner;
m
- Printed version of the proceedings.
We are working to have a bus & metro
pass offered by the City of Catania

Catania - EMC2020 Preliminary budget
Budget exhibitors
With over 2.500 sm of exhibition area,
the price (in Euro) per square meter for exhibitors will be of 350,00 /mq
The price is just for the space and doesn’t include stand design,
stand building, and power supply lines, which are, as an example:
realization of a basic booth 200,00 /mq
realization of a personalized booth 360,00 /mq
furniture kit (table, chairs, hanger) 180,00
Lights and wiring 450,00
We extimate to sell 1.500 sq for
exhibitors to reach
over 500.000,00

Catania - EMC2020 Preliminary budget
List of expenses
Daily attendee costs
(coffee break, Sunday reception, farewell drink party)
Fixed attendee cost
(proceeding usb, conference program, service fees, website)
240.000,00
160.000,00
Invited speakers, plenary speakers, awards
90.000,00
Committee expense
80.000,00
Rooms, conference construction and technical services
220.000,00
Conference center rental and PCO
280.000,00

Catania - EMC2020 Preliminary budget
Total of extimated expenses
1.070.000,00
Total of extimated income
1.085.000,00
Net result EMC2020 - Catania
15.000,00

Catania - EMC2020
The measures to encourage the participation of young and disadvantaged participants
A special low registration fee
applied to young scientists.
c
will be
Scholarships, supported by EMS and SISM,
will be based on the scientic quality of
submitted abstract.
c
Young scientists from countries with less
favorable conditions will be especially
encouraged to apply.
c
Exhibitors and local authorities will be
invited to issue additional scholarships.

Catania - EMC2020
Accommodation
Hotel price in Catania are very cheap,
90-130 per night for a four stars hotel.
c
A large number of B&B’s is present in
the city, and the average price per night
per person isaround 30-65 per day.
c
According to HPI, Catania is the third
City more protable in Itlay.
c
In September student houses are free
so we think to get an agreement with
the Catania University in order to host
young and disadvantaged participants
at a very special low priced.

Catania - EMC2020 General Chair
Giuseppe Nicotra-PhD
Born in Catania on January 5, 1972.
Since 2012 he is staff researcher at the headquarters of the IMM-CNR of Catania, where from January of the
same year worked on both the strategic planning than the design and construction of the rst Sub-A resolution
transmission electron microscopy Italian laboratory, which today holds the position of director. Also as part of
the same project he coordinated the entire training course and organized and directed the rst Italian school of
electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS).
On February 2006 he obtained the title of PhD in materials science at University of Catania under the scientic
supervision of Prof Emanuele Rimini. He worked as a visitor researcher at the University of California at Davis and the National Center
for Electron Microscopy at Berkeley, under the scientic supervision of Prof. Nigel D Browning, where he started to work in the eld of
scanning transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM), both monochromated that spherical aberration corrected (Cs corrected), applied
in the eld of Materials Science and Biological Sciences. He received the Presidential Student Award from the Microscopy Society
of America. Recently he started to study new and innovative two-dimensional (2D) materials, such as Graphene, Silicene and
Phosphorene, leading to important scientic discoveries.
He is guest editor of the Elsevier Journal, Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing, and author of more than 100 scientic
international papers..

Catania - EMC2020
General Chair
Corrado Spinella-PhD
Born in Catania on February 16, 1962.
He is and Director of the Department of Physics and Technology of Matter – CNR, President of the National
Technological District "Sicilia Micro Nanosistemi”. received his Dr. degree in Physics in 1985. In 1989 he joined
as researcher the Istituto Nazionale di Metodologie e Tecnologie per la Microelettronica (IMETEM) of the Italian
National Research Council (CNR). From 1999 to 2001 he was Director of IMETEM and in 2002 he moved as
senior researcher to the Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems (IMM). Since 2008 to 2014 he was
Director of IMM.
His research activity is in the eld of new materials and processes for micro and nanoelectronics: front–end
processing for ultra large scale Si technology; Si–based optoelectronics; science and technology of silicon
carbide for RF or power electronics; novel memory devices based on silicon nanocrystals; advanced techniques,
based on transmission electron microscopy, for characterization of nanostructured materials. He is author of more than 250 scientic
papers and of several international patents.

Catania - EMC2020 Organizing Committee Chair
Elisabetta Falcieri-Prof
Born in Trento on January 5, 1949.
Degrees in Biological Sciences and Medicine (hons) in Bologna University and, successively, Specialty in
Virology Since 1990 she is a member of the Italian Society of Microscopical Sciences and since 2014 she is
SISM President. Since the beginning she was a member of European Microscopy Society too. From November
1983 to October 1984 she was Research Assistant at University Medical School, Geneva (CH). Since 1989
italian Research National Council Associate. University Researcher in Bologna Medical School, Associate
Professor in Chieti University, and, since March 2001, Full Professor of Anatomy in the Faculty of Health and
Physical Exercise of Urbino University. Chairperson of LM-67 second level Degree Course, she was Coordinator
of the the PhD Course of "Molecular and morpho-functional methods applied to physical exercise" and, actually,
of the interclass PhD Course of “Life Sciences, Health and Biotechnology”.
She is Professor of Human Anatomy in rst level course, of Clinical Anatomy in the second level course and of Clinical Anatomy of
Motor System in the I level Master Course "Functional training" Between 2009 and 2015 she was Rector Delegated for Department
Organization. She is also member of the Italian Societies of Anatomy, Histochemistry, Cell Cultures, Cytometry, Myology, and of the
European Tissue Culture Society. She is reviewer for international journals. Her research elds are morpho-functional features of
hemopoietic, nerve, muscle and cartilage cells death, studied by means of a variety of molecular and microscopical approaches.
She is author of the Italian edition of the text "Netter Atlas of Neurosciences", Masson eds., Milano, 2004 and also of 2010 edition by
Elsevier eds. She is co- author of the text "Anatomia dell'Apparato Locomotore", ediSES, Napoli, 2008. On September 4-9 2011 she
organized in Urbino the” X Multinational Congress on Microscopy” together with Austrian, Croatian, Czechoslovak, Hungarian,
Serbian and Slovene Microscopy Societies. Since 2016 she is a MC member to COST Action 15214, Bruxelles. She is author of 485
scientic publications, 177 full papers.

Catania - EMC2020 Programme at a glance

Catania - EMC2020
Workshops programme
In situ - In operando
EELS Turorial - Enviromental TEM
Nanomedicine
Workshops and local organising committee
Dr Roberto Balboni, CNR-IMM Bologna
Dr Regina Ciancio, CNR-IOM Trieste
Dr Stefania Meschini, ISS Roma
Prof. Manuela Malatesta, University of Verona
Dr Massimo Tonelli, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
Dr Cristiano Albonetti, CNR-ISMN Bologna

Catania - EMC2020 Professional Congress Organizer
Local organizing secretariat will be Medeacom partner of Sicilia Convention Bureau
Medeacom is one of the most important PCO and DMC in Sicily, founded in 2004 has organized more
than 1.500 events.
m
Medeacom offers extremely high quality services thanks to the availability of
adequate human, nancial and technical resources.
m
Medeacom is specialized in development of: scientic congress, cultural meeting,
events, publishing, graphics and web design.
m
Medeacom organizes one of the biggest annually event in Italy ( Etna Comics) with
over 70.000 participants in 4 days, at The Ciminiere convention center.

Professional C ongress Organizer
www.medeacom.com
Supported By
www.siciliaconvention.com