IOP Groups
Modern Practices in Stress and Vibration Analysis
Glasgow, 9-11 September 2003
The MPSVA2003 conference was held at Glasgow University between 9 and 11 September and it attracted 70 paying delegates after one late withdrawal. Most of the delegates opted for the three day package however a significant number did not, and instead came for one or two days instead of three. The knock-on effect of this was to reduce the income to the conference, and this became a cause for concern latterly. In the event Glasgow University is considering waiving the room hire charges, and if this is authorised the conference will certainly have broken even. This will be reported on in due course. Glasgow University provided accommodation for all delegates who wanted it and this was included in the pricing structure.
The conference was opened by M P Cartmell and the official welcoming address was given by Professor Robin Leake, Vice Principal.
Papers were presented by delegates from a wide range of countries (Brazil, Denmark, France, Iran, Japan, Poland, Sweden, Taiwan, UK, and USA) and co-authorships were noted from the Czech Republic and India.
The proceedings were published by Trans Tech Publications of Uetikon-Zurich, Switzerland, ISBN 0-87849-928-8 and were edited by M P Cartmell. The proceedings form Vols 441-2 of the Materials Science Forum and as such will be covered by the Science Citation Index. They contain 60 papers and 3 keynote papers. Three papers were presented which were not submitted in time for inclusion in the proceedings. The keynote papers were given by Professor J-J Thomsen of the Technical University of Denmark, Professor S D Garvey of the University of Nottingham, and Professor K E Tanner of Queen Mary University of London. Professor Tanner’s keynote lecture was billed as the BSSM’s Measurements Lecture.
The BSSM ran a parallel exhibition on 10 September and also sponsored a series of awards that were presented at the conference dinner on 10 September (see below) by Dr J Barton.
The social events comprised a welcome buffet in the evening of 8 September in the Gallery Restaurant at the University of Glasgow and then there was a bus trip and dinner held at the Duck Bay Marina Hotel on the shore of Loch Lomond in the evening of 9 September. The main conference dinner was held in the evening of 10 September in the University’s Kelvin Gallery after a drinks reception in the adjoining Hunterian Museum. The after-dinner speech was given by Dr Margaret Lucas of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Glasgow after an introductory welcome by M P Cartmell. Dr J Barton presented various awards on behalf of BSSM and STRAIN.
The day-to-day local organisation was undertaken solely by M P Cartmell. Assistance with registrations and liaison with Glasgow University catering staff was provided by the University’s Conference and Visitor Services Office. Assistance with the necessary local accounting procedures was provided by the University’s CPD office. Mrs F Downie of the Department of Mechanical Engineering liaised with the Duck Bay Marina Hotel and Allander’s Buses re the dinner on 9 September.
The Student Paper prize was awarded to Manuel Goetz of the University of Leeds.
Dialogues with authors and delegates has generated over 3000 emails in the period 04/12/2001 to 16/09/2003. The importance of regular communications in managing an international conference cannot be over-emphasised!
Matthew P Cartmell 17 September 2003
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