IMC20 by Angus Kirkland

I am writing this having just returned home from IMC 20 hosted by the Korean Society in Busan.

IMC 20 was the first major international microscopy conference held face to face post pandemic and by any metric was a huge success. We listened to 5 days of outstanding scientific presentations including our five plenary and 3 medal lectures. I was struck by the fact that despite the effects of the pandemic our field is thriving and clearly rapidly advancing.

The strength of support for IMC from the international community was evidenced by the record number of attendees, at some 3100 delegates and by the 2000 abstracts submitted.

This meeting would not have been such a success if it were not for the enormous amount of work put in by the Korean Society members led by Keesam Shin and supported by the professional skills of the PCO; the PlanB. Together they delivered an outstanding conference in every way and should be congratulated.

I now look forward to meeting again in 2026.

Angus Kirkland,

President, The International federation of Societies for Microscopy