Held from the 4th-8th July 2022, the 11th European Solid Mechanics Conference (ESMC2022) brought together leading scientists and engineers from around the world to discuss the latest advancements and future directions in the field of solid mechanics. Supported by the European Mechanics Society (EUROMECH), this prestigious event is a cornerstone for the solid mechanics community, providing a platform for exchanging ideas and fostering collaboration.
Ireland’s commitment to research and innovation, coupled with our stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage, made it a fitting backdrop for this international gathering.
The conference featured themes such as Mechanics of Materials, Biomechanics and Continuum Mechanics, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the field and sparking in-depth discussions.
Peter McHugh, Interim President and Professor of Biomedical Engineering at University of Galway, chaired the conference. He led the organising committee with support from University of Galway Conference & Events Centre, Galway Convention Bureau and Abbey Conference & Events. The event was organised in collaboration with the European Solid Mechanics Conference Committee, chaired by Professor Gerhard Holzapfel.
Environmental Impact
The European Solid Mechanics Conference left a lasting impact on the field and its future development. Here are some of the highlights:
-
Introduced the Women in STEM Conference Support Awards, enabling 30 young female researchers from 12 countries to attend. Ensured gender balance in panel discussions and award committees.
-
Focused on environmental sustainability by holding a paperless conference and avoiding plastic containers.
-
Mentored 230 young researchers and awarded four Young Researcher Awards, promoting diversity and inclusion. 36% of delegates who attended were students.
- Welcomed delegates from 44 countries, with strong participation from 10 countries in the Global South, demonstrating the conference’s global impact.
Awards
The 11th European Solid Mechanics Conference won two prestigious awards at the Fáilte Ireland Conference Ambassador Recognition Awards 2023. Professor Peter McHugh was honoured as Ambassador of the Year and was also awarded the Galway Regional Champion.
Ruth Andrews, Chair of Fáilte Ireland, Peter McHugh, Interim President of University of Galway, and Professor of Biomedical Engineering, chaired the conference.
Solid mechanics is crucial in developing new technology to address the major global challenges of our time in health, renewable energy and sustainability, and as such it was an honour and privilege for me to chair the 11th European Solid Mechanics Conference in July 2022. It was a real team effort; perfect example of us all working together to achieve something significant for Ireland and to put us on the world map.
- Professor Peter McHugh, University of Galway
11th European Solid Mechanics Conference was aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals
.jpg.aspx)
The European Solid Mechanics Conference is the major event for the solid mechanics community in Europe, and provides a unique forum for scientists and engineers from Europe and across the world to exchange ideas on the current state-of-the-art in the mechanics of solids, on new concepts and ideas and to identify new research directions.