12th Nordic Baltic Conference in Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics
Reykjavik, Iceland
June 18 -22, 2002
Dear colleagues,
On the behalf of the organising committee and the Icelandic Society for Biomedical Engineering I am happy to welcome you to the 12 Nordic Baltic Conference in Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics, 12NBC held in Reykjavik 12 Nordic Baltic Conference in Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics 18th to 22nd 2002. This meeting is a regional meeting of IFMBE. The conference attracts scientists from all over the world for a fruitful exchange of thoughts and sharing of results. The conference will feature some outstanding keynote lectures, live demonstrations and workshops on special topics. Our common goal is the application of physical laws, formal problem solving methods and physiological and medical knowledge to create methods and devices for the benefit of human health. The importance and impact of this goal on life and welfare of the human is steadily growing as technology, skills and knowledge evolve. Conferences like this are an important tool in this process enabling scientists to discuss and compare their ideas and results, receiving feedback on own work, dissipating results, learning to know each other, finding partners and co-workers, learning new things and enjoy the company of colleagues form distant places for a few days.
The Nordic Baltic Conference on Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics is held for the first time on Iceland. It seems to be a logical step for a small society with a rapidly growing activity in medical research and industry to host a conference like this. Companies working in gene research have obtained international acknowledgement and medical device manufactures are blooming. Accompanying the 12 NBC there will be a health technology and science exhibition, which the conference participants can attend. This exhibition attracts companies active in the Nordic region. Companies will promote their products with presentations and demonstrations. Also accompanying the 12 NBC are meetings of international organisations.
Icelandic nature has much to offer. The volcano island is known for its picturesque mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and hot springs. Here you will find the original "Geysir" a name, which has been adopted in many languages. "Surtsey" the island that was created in a volcanic eruption in the sixties and "Heimaey" of the Vestman islands where the town was buried by ash and lava in 1973 are examples of the many geological attractions. Wildlife is also rich on and around Iceland. Birds are in a huge variety, whale watching is a popular attraction and the rivers are full of salmon and trout. Icelanders are the posterity of Vikings that populated the island around 1100 years ago. Rich sagas and culture is worthwhile. In June the nights are bright offering a special flare and enhancing the possibilities to enjoy the country.
Please visit the home page of 12NBC http://www.nervus.is/nbc02/, which contains all the latest information about the conference and is updated regularly.
We are happy to welcome you to the 12NBC summer 2002 in Reykjavik,
Sincerely,
Thordur Helgason
Chairman of 12NBC