Key Dates

Outlined below are the key dates for conference submissions and registration.

Workshops

Workshop proposals are now closed. Details about the workshops taking place on Sunday 1st September are available to view on the 'Workshops' tab.

Conference Abstracts

IFESS will be accepting scientific contributions of one-page abstracts, which will be published online as conference proceedings. Details are provided on the Abstract Submissions tab and on the submission guidelines site.

Contributions must be submitted by 6th May 2024 (23:59 CEST). The notification of acceptance or rejection of your contribution will be sent by 24th May 2024.

Conference Registration

Booking for IFESS 2024 registration is now open. Details are provided on the Registration tab and on the booking site. Please note that the Early Bird registration deadline, providing a discount on the registration fee, is 1st June 2024, and the final date for registration to attend IFESS 2024 is 18th August 2024.

Workshops

IFESS 2024 includes an extra pre-conference day packed full of workshops on Sunday 1st September. Details of the workshops are in the table below, with the schedule to be released shortly.

Attendance at the workshops can be booked as a stand-alone one-day event, or as an extra to the main IFESS 2024 conference registration. To attend, please make sure to book your place at the pre-conference workshops via the registration and booking page.

For any queries about the workshops, please contact ifess2024scientific@ifess.org.

Keynote Speakers

We are pleased to announce the following keynote speakers at IFESS 2024:

Harvey Sihota Founder, Neurokinex Chief Vision Officer, Spinal Research More details...

Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities

Sponsorship of IFESS 2024 is available at several levels, each creating business opportunities and offering specific privileges for sponsors. Please contact us to discuss a suitable package, or fill out the Sponsor Form for one of the standard packages described in the table below.

Preset sponsorship levels include:

Sponsor Level	Benefits	Cost
Platinum	Available to one sponsor organisation only. Prime advertising on conference material and on the IFESS 2024 website. Evening event named after the Platinum sponsoring organisation, with sponsor materials distributed to the tables. Prime exhibition space in the venue foyer. Logo printed on all conference material, including conference lanyard. Flyer distributed in the conference bag. Named sponsorship of a conference award. A timed promotional slot to address the conference audience. Complimentary registration and evening event invitations for 2 attendees.	£10k
Gold	Prime exhibition space in the venue foyer. Logo printed on all conference material, including conference lanyard. Flyer distributed in the conference bag. Named sponsorship of a conference award. A timed promotional slot to address the conference audience. Complimentary registration and evening event invitations for 2 attendees.	£5k
Silver	Exhibition space - medium size. Flyer distributed in the conference bag. Logo printed on conference material. Complimentary registration and evening event invitations for 2 attendees.	£3k
Bronze	Exhibition space - standard size. Logo printed on conference material. Complimentary registration for 1 attendee.	£1k

Getting to the city of Bath, UK

Bath is well connected in its transport links. Bath Spa train station is located in the heart of the city and is on the main line between Bristol and London. Bristol International Airport is nearby and is well serviced by the bus and rail networks, while the city is also situated close to the M4 motorway.

Train Services

There are frequent train services from London, Bristol and South Wales to Bath Spa railway station (BTH). Sites covering national rail networks, such as nationalrail.co.uk or trainline.com may be helpful to plan your journey and buy advance tickets. Alternatively, please visit the websites of the main rail operators to plan a journery, book tickets and to check the latest travel updates: GWR, South Western Railway and Transport for Wales all run services to Bath Spa rail station.

Air Travel

Bristol International Airport

Bath's nearest airport is Bristol International.

From there, the A4 Air Decker bus service can take you directly from the airport to Bath city centre.

You can also catch the Bristol Flyer Airport Express bus from Bristol airport to Bristol Temple Meads rail station (BRI), and then travel on to Bath by train or local bus services.

London Airports

There are also regular connections and routes to Bath by rail and coach from London Heathrow airport and London Gatwick airport.

Coach & Bus Services

There are direct daily coach services to Bath from London Victoria coach station and some direct services from Heathrow Airport. There are also coach services to Bristol from London and other major UK cities, please refer to the websites of the coach operators to check services: National Express runs services to Bath and Bristol, while megabus and FlixBus run services to Bristol.

First Bus provides frequent bus services from Bristol city, as well as across Bath and from neighbouring towns and villages. Please see the First Bus West of England website for more information and to plan a journey.

Travel by Car

Bath's closest motorway is the M4, from there the city can be accessed via the A46 from Junction 18, following signs to Bath. For alternative routes, please refer to an online route planner.

Also note that Bath city centre operates a charging Clean Air Zone (CAZ), please check if any charges will apply to your vehicle and route before you travel.

More Details

Further travel advice to Bath city is provided by the University of Bath: https://www.bath.ac.uk/topics/travel-advice/

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Getting to the University of Bath campus

The University of Bath campus is located in Claverton Down, on the east side of Bath. The conference will be held within the East Building, located on the main campus site.

There are frequent bus services connecting the university campus and Bath city centre. A main bus stop from the city centre to campus is located on Dorchester Street, opposite the main bus station and close to Bath Spa train station. From here, the U1 service travels to Arrivals Square on the University of Bath campus. The university provides more details about bus travel to the campus, and the various services available.

Limited parking is also available on-site at the university campus. The closest car park to the conference venue is East Car Park. If using a satnav to drive to the University of Bath campus, please set the destination as 'Norwood Avenue, Bath', not 'Quarry Road', to get to the main entrance of the university campus and visitor car parks.

Venue Address:

East Building
University of Bath
Claverton Down
Bath
BA2 7AY
United Kingdom

Please follow the links for more travel details to the University of Bath campus, a campus accessibility guide and a campus map.

Conference Registration

Registration for IFESS 2024 is open. Please use the link below to register for your place at the conference, the Sunday workshops, and any extras such as the evening event. The same link is also used for booking on-site accommodation at the University of Bath.

IFESS 2024 Registration & Bookings

Details of the conference registration and workshop fees as well as optional extras are provided below.

Conference Registration Fees

The conference fees are outlined in the table below, where the Early Bird rate is available until 1st June 2024, after which the standard fee will apply. IFESS members also receive a discounted fee - why not join IFESS now and benefit from your membership today! Join at Membership – IFESS.

Please note the final booking date for the conference is 18th August 2024.

Workshops Day and Conference Dinner Fees

Booking attendance for the workshops on Sunday 1st September is an extra and separate from the main conference. You may book to attend the workshops as a stand-alone event without having to also register for the main conference, or may book in addition to conference registration, as you wish. Please see the 'Workshops' tab for details of the workshops that will be running.

Other optional extras to the IFESS 2024 conference include an evening dinner event on Monday 2nd September, taking place from 19:00 to 23:00. The Conference Dinner will be held at the American Museum & Gardens, with a 3-course meal served in a beautiful Grade-II listed building boasting original beams and Bath Stone walls, and located among 2.5 acres of formal gardens overlooking the Cotswolds area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).

Booking places to attend the workshops and/or conference dinner is available via the main IFESS 2024 registration and booking page. Please see the table below for fee details.

Accommodation

University of Bath Campus

Accommodation is available on-site provided by the University of Bath. To help you get settled, rooms are available to book from Saturday 31st August through to Tuesday 3rd September. For guests travelling long distance, there are some limited rooms also available to book for Tuesday night. Accessible rooms are available at the Woodland Court location, with more details below.

Booking on-site accommodation is available via the conference registration link.

IFESS 2024 Registration & Bookings

The University of Bath accommodation is bookable on a per night basis, with the fees as outlined in the table below. All rooms are single occupancy, ensuite, and come with bedding, towels, high-speed Wi-Fi connection, tea and coffee making facilities in the kitchen, and with breakfast served daily in one of the university food outlets. Rooms in both the Marlborough/Solsbury Court and Woodland Court locations are conveniently situated on the east side of the Claverton Down campus, and so are all within a short walking distance to the East Building conference venue.

Accessible rooms are available at the Woodland Court location on-campus. If you require an accessible room at the University of Bath, please select the 'Woodland Court (Small Double)' option when booking your accommodation and email the university events team (conferencesandevents@bath.ac.uk) so that an appropriate room can be allocated, which suits your requirements. While we hope to cater for everyone, there are a limited number of accessible rooms, so these will be subject to availability. If in any doubt, please get in contact with the university events team prior to booking.

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Bath City

About Bath

Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, filled with Georgian architecture and famous for its hot springs which gave rise to the Roman Baths, and hence the city's name. Alongside its historical origins and traditional heritage, the city has a vibrant cultural scene with theatre, comedy, markets, live music and festivals throughout the year. The city also sits close to the edge of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and with Bath's own green spaces and hilltop views over the city, it is also a wonderful place to explore the UK's countryside and great outdoors.

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About the University of Bath

The University of Bath is a leading UK research university, dedicated to making a positive impact to the world we live in. IFESS 2024 is being supported by the Bath Institute for the Augmented Human (IAH), based within the university.

Human augmentation uses science and technology to enhance physical and cognitive performance – and has the potential to transform every aspect of our lives. It can enable us to surpass our biological limitations, improve health and wellbeing, and extend our lifespans. Increasingly, we’re using cutting-edge technology to keep us healthy and help us perform better. From neurotechnology headsets that can translate brain activity into communication, to super-strength wearable exoskeletons, there are countless ways intelligent machines can make a difference.

The Bath IAH is a diverse community of researchers, policy makers, entrepreneurs and educators using technology to enhance and improve the physical and cognitive abilities of individuals. Drawing on academics from across departments and disciplines, the Bath IAH has leading expertise in a wide range of relevant technologies. These include brain-computer interfaces, motion capture, eye tracking, prosthetics and exoskeletons, biosensors and virtual and augmented reality research. As well as having strong links with regional, national and global partners in academia and industry and collaborators in UK hospitals, sports' governing bodies and defence forces.

Abstract Submissions

IFESS will be accepting scientific contributions of one-page abstracts, which will be published in Artificial Organs (only online) as conference proceedings. In addition, your submissions will be made available to all attendees during the conference in electronic form. The contribution must be submitted electronically via EasyChair as a Word and PDF document, and should be prepared according to the IFESS submission template.

The contribution must be submitted by 6th May 2024 (23:59 CEST) via the EasyChair portal. The notification of acceptance or rejection of your contribution will be sent by 24th May 2024.

Abstract Guidelines & Submission

General Guidance

The conference contributions are expected to be based around the following topics:

• Emerging technologies and applications  (e.g. smart textiles, implant technologies, etc.)
• Neurophysiological mechanisms of FES and motor learning
• Hybrid approaches (e.g. robotics, pharmaceuticals, paired pulse stimulation, etc.)
• Brain Computer Interfacing (BCI), Augmented Reality (AR), Gaming and FES
• Chronic conditions and Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU) acquired weakness
• Effectiveness of technologies in clinical practice
• FES for the recovery of functions (e.g. respiratory function, cardiovascular system, pelvic organs, orthopaedics, etc.)
• Stimulation of denervated muscles
• Epidural and Transcutaneous Spinal Stimulation
• End user perspectives and quality of life
• Wound healing

Please use the following links to access the more detailed submission guidelines, a downloadable template for your submission and a direct link to the EasyChair portal to submit your abstract for IFESS 2024:

• Submission Guidelines
• Abstract Template
• EasyChair Abstract Submission Portal

For any questions about abstract submissions, please email ifess2024scientific@ifess.org