Editorial: 2020 ESCRS Virtual Congress

Rudy Nuijts

Published: Saturday, June 6, 2020

Dear Colleagues, Amid ongoing disease, death and uncertainty around the world,one regrettable casualty of the COVID-19 crisis is the 2020 live ESCRS Congress. It was to be held in Amsterdam in October. Instead, we will host our first ESCRS Virtual Congress on Friday 2 October through Sunday 4 October. This decision was taken in part because current Netherlands meeting safety protocols make a live conference of some 9,000 delegates and 6,000 industry representatives unfeasible in the available space, if at all. In addition, it remains unclear whether travel and quarantine restrictions will allowwidespread attendance. Most of all, protecting our delegates and other stakeholders from potential infection in a crowded meeting space is ouroverriding concern. We hope this early notice gives you the time you need to arrange your participation for the virtual meeting. Note that “virtual” does not mean “impersonal.”Building on the success our innovative moderated poster sessions and dispersed free paperformat in Paris and Vienna, this year’s meeting will feature cutting-edge research in a highly interactive setting, with online messaging available from your home or office. To further encourage interaction, we plan to bring named lecture presenters and major symposia panels to Amsterdam where possible for the in-depth analysis and vivid discussions that ESCRS is known for. As with live events, CME credits are being arranged for select digital programmes. Meeting contents will also be available afterward via ESCRS On Demand, allowing you access to the latest science and education on your schedule. Our industry partners are also lending their full support. In addition to helping out with the enormous technical challenges this congress presents, they will be hosting a virtual exhibit hall as well as lunchtime educational events. We will take care to also include some entertaining moments that are going to be quite memorable! Finally, recognise that this event is a work in progress. Much will depend on how circumstances develop. Watch for details here and at www.escrs.org. We look forward to seeing you in October. Prof.dr.Rudy MMA Nuijts, ESCRS President