mmc2015: A Meeting Point for Microscopists from Around the World

The Microscience Microscopy Congress 2015 (mmc2015) organised by the Royal Microscopical Society (RMS) took place at Manchester Central from 29^th June to 2^nd July 2015. The congress followed on from the successful Microscience Microscopy Congress 2014 and continued the tradition of being one of the largest gatherings of researchers and industry in the field of microscopy from Europe and across the world. The back to back nature of the two meetings in 2014 and 2015 has enabled the congress to switch to odd years and so now avoid the clash with the European and also the International Microscopy Congresses.

mmc2015 attracted 703 unique conference delegates and 662 unique exhibition visitors giving a total attendance for mmc2015 of a staggering 1365 people ! The exhibition contained stands from around 100 companies making it the largest microscopy exhibition in Europe. The conference contained 6 parallel sessions with 6 plenary speakers, 52 invited speakers, around 87 contributed oral presentations and 300 poster presentations which blended light, electron and scanning probe microscopy and analysis highlighting both applications and tools and techniques in the life and physical sciences.

Furthermore this was the first year that the congress had incorporated the famous Electron Microscopy and Analysis Group (EMAG) conference of the Institute of Physics and this will continue in 2017. This congress again incorporated the annual Frontiers in Bioimaging which has become an annual ‘go to’ meeting for life scientists using the very latest advanced light microscopy techniques.

mmc2015 again included dedicated Scanning Probe Microscopy sessions as well as popular sessions on High-Resolution X-ray imaging: Techniques and Applications and also Advances in Instrumentation and Techniques across the Microscopies. The popularity of these new sessions reflect the continued growth of the mmc series as the UK forum for all microscopy techniques.

Delegates at mmc2015 were able to network with each other, meet manufacturers and suppliers at the large Exhibition in order to learn about the latest innovations in the microscopy and imaging industry. They could also visit the famous RMS Learning Zone, view the Scientific Imaging Competition Entries, view the posters, visit the Exhibitor Workshops and participate in a variety of social events including a congress banquet in the famous Midland Hotel in Manchester.

  As well as the main event there were a number of Pre-Congress Workshops: using ImageJ, OMERO in Action, Light Sheet Microscopy, Practical tips for Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) imaging and spectroscopy, Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) and, building on previous events, some free satellite meetings: Cross-disciplinary EM and LM Meeting, the Electron Microscopy Facility Mangers meeting, the FIB and EM Preparation User Group Meeting and Journal of Microscopy workshops. Finally, following on after mmc2015, there was a Super Resolution Workshop satellite event which took place in Leeds.

Dr Peter O'Toole, mmc2015 Life Science Chair, said "You could see the younger delegates being inspired as their eyes were opened to how big microscopy really is, and you could see the senior Professors networking and pushing agenda.
At the same time, delegates and visitors were hearing about new exciting science, technologies and applications which help educate, inform and inspire everyone who attends.
The exhibition is massive, and showcased many of the tools that help forge scientific success and which can make a fundamental difference to everyone's future.  As the next drug is found, the next low energy light source is pioneered, the next super-crop developed to help feed the world, microscopy will have played an essential role. This is why mmc2015 was not only important to ourselves, but to the UK economy and well-being, and to the world as a whole."

The Royal Microscopical Society would like to take this opportunity to invite you to the next mmc and EMAG meeting at Manchester Central and we hope that you will add mmc2017 to your calendar, 3-6 July 2017.