Welcome to the BOSS Track and our Barcelona 2024 Programme.
Unique topics including inclusivity, diversity, leadership and mentorship are on offer from Friday through Monday.
Click on a section below to learn more about each activity or to register.
Join the BOSS Working Group and the ESCRS Executive and Council Members to kick things off by enjoying a BOSS ‘mock’tail in one of our amazing logo colours in a secret garden located in the Congress centre.
It is a great opportunity to make new connections, compare plans for the Congress and learn more about the ESCRS inclusivity initiative.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their CV for sharing.
At this year’s ESCRS Annual Congress in Barcelona, the Building Our Sustainable Inclusive Society (BOSS) team is excited to debut Speed Mentoring Sessions that will take place at the ESCRS Booth from Friday 6 September to Monday 9 September 2024.
The Speed Mentoring sessions are now fully booked, thank you for your interest!
What is Speed Mentoring?
Speed Mentoring is a dynamic and interactive session where mentees have the opportunity to engage with experienced mentors in short, focused conversations. This format allows for the exchange of knowledge, guidance, and networking in a time-efficient manner.
Why Participate?
- Expert Guidance: Connect with a variety of seasoned professionals, including ESCRS leadership, industry leaders, key opinion leaders, ophthalmologists, and experts from outside the immediate world of ophthalmology. They can provide career advice, share their experiences, and offer insights on various sub-specialties within ophthalmology.
- Networking Opportunities: Build your professional network by meeting mentors and fellow mentees, fostering connections that could benefit your career for years to come.
- Tailored Advice: Get personalised feedback and answers to your specific questions and concerns in one-on-one discussions.
- Career Advancement: Learn about the latest trends, research, and career opportunities in ophthalmology, helping you stay ahead in your profession.
How Does it Work?
The sessions will take place at the ESCRS stand in the members-only area from Friday 6 September to Monday 9 September 2024.
During the one-hour sessions, you will spend 10 minutes per mentor and then move to the next table. We hope that this conversation will lead to a connection, a mentor, a friendship or a new perspective.
- Friday: 14:00 – 15:00
- Saturday: 10:00 – 11:00 and 14:00 – 15:00
- Sunday: 10:00 – 11:00 and 14:00 – 15:00
- Monday: 11:00 – 12:00 and 14:00 – 15:00
Who Are the Mentors?
Our mentors come from all areas of ophthalmology – from members of the ESCRS leadership team, ophthalmologists from around the world, as well as leaders in the ophthalmic industry. More than 60 people have volunteered to serve as mentors, which the BOSS team greatly appreciates.
Contact Us
For any questions or additional information, please contact us at carole.foley@research.escrs.org.
Saturday 7 September 2024 at 8:45
Join ESCRS President Filomena Ribeiro and BOSS Working Group Chair Mor Dickman for this opening symposium that explores hidden bias in science. With speakers from the ophthalmic industry, specialists in AI, as well as Project Implicit Executive Director Amy Johnson, this session is guaranteed to get you thinking differently about scientific literature.
Monday 9 September 2024 at 9:00
At the Leadership & Mentorship in an Inclusive Society Symposium, the BOSS Working Group teams up with the Leadership, Business & Innovation Committee to explore what ESCRS, partner societies, industry, among others are doing to foster inclusivity. Chairs Filomena Ribeiro and Paul Rosen will lead this diverse programme
Sunday 8 September 2024 at 11:00
This year ESCRS is proud to support parents by providing a fully staffed and equipped creche and family room in Barcelona.
The facilities are located within the VIP area and comprise a dedicated children’s feeding area and a separate lactation/breastfeeding room with a fridge. There will be baby changing facilities and rest rooms. The creche is staffed by experienced childminders from Nipperbout. Security will be provided at the entrance.
The service is funded by ESCRS and free for attendees, but places are limited, and electronic registration is required in advance. Learn more here.
Non-ophthalmic partners of Congress attendees will be able to collect their children without needing to register for the ESCRS Congress.
Registered attendees who need or want to bring their children to the Congress can book 4-hour slots during the following opening hours:
- 06/09/2024 | Friday | 08:00 to 19:00
- 07/09/2024 | Saturday | 08:00 to 19:00
- 08/09/2024 | Sunday | 08:00 to 20:30
- 09/09/2024 | Monday | 08:00 to 18:00
- 10/09/2024 | Tuesday | 08:00 to 15:00
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND ACCESS REGISTRATION DETAILS
Family-friendly activities in Barcelona for attendees with children
Parc d’atraccions del Tibidabo
Tibidabo Amusement Park is an amusement park located on Tibidabo in the Collserola Ridge in Barcelona. It was built in 1899 and is among the oldest in the world. Many of the original rides, which are more than 100 years old, are still in use. The park is now owned by the Barcelona City Council. It is also offers a great view of the city.
Aquàrium
Barcelona’s Aquarium is home to more than 11,000 animals representing 450 species. It is the world’s largest Mediterranean-themed marine attraction. Activities include an 80m-long underwater tunnel with sharks and rays swimming overhead, swimming with sharks or the chance to spend the night in the tunnel.
Poble Espanyol
The Poble Espanyol (Spanish village) brings together reproductions of buildings from all over Spain, but it’s more than an architectural curiosity. It is possible to sign up for one of their many workshops – from gardening to pottery – or take part in their family gymkhana, a treasure hunt with clues that will send the visitor out to discover all the village’s secret nooks and crannies.
Zoo
Barcelona’s zoo has plenty of animals, all of whom look happy enough in reasonably sized enclosures and the city’s comfortable climate. Favourites include giant hippos, the prehistoric-looking rhino, sea lions, elephants, giraffes, lions and tigers. Child-friendly features include a farmyard zoo, pony rides, picnic areas and two excellent playgrounds. There is a zoo train as an alternative to walk.
Park Güell
Gaudi’s beautiful garden has the benefit of being a bona fide unmissable attraction, whilst giving the kids room to breathe and explore. The architect’s love of the fantastical means that the park is sure to capture their imagination, starting with the iconic multi-hued lizard on the grand staircase, one of the symbols of Barcelona. The whole family will enjoy the views from the park’s expansive viewing terrace, which is has snaking white benches, decorated with colourful bits of broken pottery. Suitable for kids of all ages.
Las Golondrinas boats
These traditional boats offer passengers an unusual view of Barcelona: from the sea. On board these boats it is easy to imagine pirates closing in on the city or the many naval battles that have taken place off the coast here. Today, though, the tranquil trip lets the visitor enjoy the maritime skyline with the Columbus Monument, Hotel W, Glòries Tower, Maremagnum shopping complex, Montjuïc, Hotel Arts and Mapfre Tower, among other buildings.
Barceloneta beach
This beach is inextricably linked to the fishing quarter of the same name, Barceloneta, Barcelona’s classic neighbourhood by the sea, where the people of Barcelona love to come and eat fish and seafood dishes and “tapas”.
Located in the traditional fishing district, this is one of Barcelona’s oldest and best-loved beaches. It is thought to have inspired Miguel de Cervantes as the setting for the fight between Don Quixote and the Knight of the White Moon.
There are lifeguards, local police, beach information point, adapted showers, adapted public toilets, children games area, sun loungers, changing rooms, beach umbrellas, drinks and ice cream kiosks, sports facilites, bicycle parking areas, restaurants and Wi-fi. Also, gymnastics area, beach volleyball, beach tennis and table tennis.
FCBarcelona museum
This museum will take the visitor through the history and greatness of FCBarcelona with a unique multimedia experience. Additionally, visitors will have access to the new immersive Spotify Camp Nou Live, one of the largest immersive content rooms in a circular format. It is possible to test your football skills in the “Robokeeper” challenge, where you have 3 chances to score a goal against a robotic goalkeeper. Additionally, it is possible to have access to “Barça Virtual Dream”, where immerse yourself in a virtual Barça universe and feel what it’s like to be one of FCB players.
CosmoCaixa
One of the biggest sciences museums in Europe. The installations for children are excellent: the Planetarium pleases those aged five to eight, and the wonderful Clik (ages three to six) and Flash (seven to nine) introduce children to science through games. Toca Toca! (‘Touch Touch’) educates children on which animals and plants are safe and which to avoid. One of the real highlights, for both young and old, is the hugely entertaining sound telescope outside on the Plaça de la Ciència.
Cable car across Barcelona port
The Transbordador aeri del port or telesférico del puerto is a 1.3-kilometre cable-car system across Barcelona harbor (Port Vell). Travel over the harbor using the harbor cable car to get from the Sebastià tower in Barceloneta beach to the Miramar viewpoint on Montjuïc hill. The Barcelona cable-car system was designed in 1929 for the World Fair on the Montjuïc. The trip from Port Vell to the Montjuic takes ten minutes and reaches an altitude of 70 metres. This cable car offers one of the most spectacular views of the Barcelona harbor and city.
Sagrada Familia
The Sagrada Familia is Barcelona’s most visited landmark and an icon of the city. It is a product of Antoni Gaudi’s imagination and a stunning example of Art Nouveau and Catalan Noucentisme architecture.
At first glance itself, it becomes easy to see why there is no building like the Sagrada Familia anywhere in the world. A stunning part of Sagrada Familia are its Towers. The top of these towers can be accessed via an elevator and offers a great view.
Parc de la Ciutadella
Ciutadella park is very idyllic and probably the greenest oasis in the centre of Barcelona. It invites to relax, to rebound and to go for long walks, as well as for a picnic. It is possible to use a rowing boat on the lake. On the grounds of the Parc de la Ciutadella, there are several attractions: the zoo, the Catalan Parliament, the Zoological Museum and the Museu de Geologia.
Museu de la xocolata
The museum of chocolate is run by the provincial guild of cake makers, telling the story of chocolate from its earliest origins to its arrival in Europe and its current status as the ultimate feel-good treat.
Join OWL for an impactful ‘Signature Event’ at the Recinte Modernista Sant Pau – a stunning architectural masterpiece. Designed by the renowned architect Lluis Domenech I Montaner, it was a hospital until 2009. Today, it’s an important cultural center and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Guests will need to make their own way to the venue from the Fira.
Programme:
6:00 pm – Networking Reception
6:35 pm – Welcome & Opening Remarks – Nivine Woods, OWL President
6:39 pm – OWL and ESCRS DEI Initiatives – Filomena Ribeiro, MD, ESCRS President
6.42 pm – Keynote: Applied Neuroscience & Gender Dynamics for Leadership – Katharine D’Amico, PhD
7:15 pm – Expanded Panel Discussion: Katharine D’Amico, PhD, Arthur Cummings, MD & Aylin Kilic, MD
7:30 pm – Event Concludes, followed by Optional Tour
A complimentary tour of this stunning architectural masterpiece will be offered following the Event from 7:30 pm. Register so we know to expect you.
Content Overview:
Communication isn’t as simple as saying what you mean. Did you know? 75% of talking during the average business meeting is done by men. Preliminary results from Partners In Leadership research confirm this finding: Women above men still struggle to find their voice in the room.
Consider this:
The head of a large division of a multinational corporation was running a meeting devoted to performance assessment. Each senior manager stood up, reviewed the individuals in his group, and evaluated them for promotion. Although there were women in every group, not one of them made the cut. One after another, each manager declared, in effect, that every woman in his group didn’t have the self-confidence needed to be promoted. The division head began to doubt his ears. How could it be that all the talented women in the division suffered from a lack of self-confidence?
In all likelihood, they didn’t consider the many women who have left large corporations to start their own businesses, obviously exhibiting enough confidence to succeed on their own. Judgments about confidence can be inferred only from the way people present themselves, and much of that presentation is in the form of talk. Perceptions, influence and decisions can be managed through the intersection of neuroscience and communication: triggering neurochemicals for inspiring behaviour through language.
We will address:
1. Understanding Brain Chemistry: How language can trigger behaviours & decisions
2. Language as Learned Social Behaviour: The Perception Gap
3. Double Binds and False Dilemmas – Habits Values and Beliefs
4. Who Gets Heard: Gender, Influence and Linguistic Styles