2019 ESP-IUPB World Congress on Light and Life

The 17th International Congress on Photobiology, named the 2019 ESP-IUPB World Congress on Light and Life, was the fruit of a joint effort of the International Union for Photobiology (IUPB) and the European Society for Photobiology (ESP, https://www.photobiology.eu).It was held on August 25-30, 2019, at the Hotel Crowne Plaza Barcelona Fira Center, in Barcelona, Spain. The core group of the Organizing Committee was composed of Santi Nonell, local Chair of the congress and ESP President, John Spudich, co-chair and IUPB President; Francesco Ghetti, ESP Treasurer; Franz Trautinger, IUPB Treasurer; Rex Tyrrell, ESP Past-President; and Evelyne Sage, IUPB Secretary.

The congress registered 749 participants from 47 countries (see Annex 1). A particular effort was made to attract students from all around the world. About 186 students from 37 countries participated in the congress. 63 fellowships were offered to students and young fellows.

The congress programme was structured around the 6 broad areas that described key Photobiology areas : Photomedicine and Human Photobiology, Photodynamic Therapy, Physical and Chemical Photobiology, Photosensory Biology, Plant Photobiology, and Environmental Photobiology. The Scientific Organizing Committee set up 66 academic Symposia with Chairs and Invited speakers coming from the 5 continents. The Scientific programme included also 2 Industry-sponsored Symposia (by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals and Clinuvel), 751 communications, 9 plenary lectures, 7 keynote lectures, 397 invited lectures from 32 countries, 146 oral communications, and 177 posters.