Social programme
Of course you intend to participate to 6WCOC for the outstanding quality of science. Nevertheless, social events are essential for good communication between scientists. Several events will take place during the congress allowing the participants to discover the region of Lille, its gastronomical and cultural heritage and the numerous events related to Lille3000.
Registration desk and informal reception - Sunday July 5th 2009.
The registration desk will be installed at the Tri Postal from 15:00 to 19:00 h. Congress documents, badge and transportation Pass will be delivered to participants.
At 19:00 h, after Tri Postal closure to public, an informal reception will be offered to the participants of 6WCOC.
The Tri Postal is a building located next to the Lille Flandres railway station (see the map for precise indication). Until 2003 it has been the central post handling and distribution center for Lille. In 2004 it was transformed in a cultural center hosting major exhibitions mostly of contemporary art and concerts for Lille2004, cultural capital of Europe. The great success of this event made of Tri Postal a landmark in cultural life of Lille.
Presently, the Tri Postal hosts an exhibition in the frame of Lille3000, Europe XXL presenting artists coming from the eastern part of Europe: Invisible frontiers. You will have the opportunity to visit the exhibition individually or in guided tours (details will be provided here later).
The week-end of the starting of 6WCOC is dedicated specially to Istanbul. A series of events will take during all week-end and in several locations in the town. Further details will be available here soon and on the web site of Lille3000.
The registration desk and informal reception is hosted by Lille3000, Europe XXL
Official reception - Monday July 6th, evening
The Official Reception will be offered by Martine Aubry, Mayor of Lille and President of Lille Metropole. It will take place at the Palais des Beaux Arts (Fine Arts) museum.
Due to the size of its permanent collections, the Palais des Beaux-Arts of Lille is considered to be the second largest general-interest museum in France, just after the Louvre in Paris. The building, completed between 1885 and 1892, is typical of the monumental architecture of the late 19th century.
Fully renovated in 1997, its 22,000 m² house prestigious collections of European painting (Rubens, Van Dyck, Goya, Delacroix…), a few key examples of 19th century French painting (David's Belisarius, Courbet's L’après-dînée à Ornans, Puvis de Chavannes' The Slumber, …), a large collection of drawings (including 40 sheets by Raphaël), a sculpture gallery (Carpeaux, Rodin, Claudel, Bartholdi…) and 17th and 18th century ceramics.
You will have the opportunity to visit the permanent collections of the museum during this cocktail reception.
Transportation from the congress location will be organized.
Photos: Palais des Beaux-Arts: www.pba-lille.fr
Excursion - Wednesday July 8th, afternoon
The Excursion will take place in Belgium in order to outline the joint organization of 6WCOC by a belgian an a french laboratory.
This excursion will enable you to discover some of the masterpieces of past and present belgian engineering: the boat elevators of the Canal du Centre. In the mid 1980's, the 19th century elevators (World Heritage site by UNESCO) were replaced by one giant boat lift at Strépy-Thieu. During the visit, you will visit the machinery, and see a short film of the history of these installations. You will then embark on boats and experience the 73m travel down the elevator. A short navigation will enable you to see one of the four historic boat-lifts.
After the visit at the Canal du Centre a stop on the way back to Lille is planned with a refreshment (details provided later).
On the left, the "modern" boat elevator of Strépy-Thieu. On the right, one of the four historic elevators of the Canal du Centre (World Heritage of UNESCO)
Congress dinner - Thursday July 9th evening
The Congress dinner will take in the Great Hall of the Chamber of Trade and Industry of Grand Lille (CCI Grand Lille).
All social events, except the Congress dinner, are included in the registration fee. Participants are requested to confirm their presence at these events upon registration to the congress.
Accompanying persons will have the opportunity to participate to a variety of guided tours in Lille and its surroundings. Details will be available soon at this page.
Please visit this web site regularly in order to be updated on the Social events.
