Contact and General information

Contacting the local organizers:

If you have any questions or need more information concerning the conference, please do not hesitate to contact us: 

EED 2024 Slack channel:

Do you have questions for our local organizers in Helsinki, or want to start networking with other attendees? Interested in coordinating travel or room sharing? Join our Slack channel to connect, discuss, and plan together for the upcoming event. It’s a great way to engage with the community and make your conference experience even better. 

The organizers of the EED 2024 meeting want to ensure that everyone enjoys the event. Therefore, by registering for and attending EED 2024, we all agree to the following code of conduct:
We will respect everyone regardless of age, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, nationality, political affiliation, health, care responsibilities, physical appearance, disability, or educational background. We will also avoid language and behavior that reinforces discrimination or oppression based on any of these characteristics.
We will not engage in any form of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. This includes intimidating behavior or language, inappropriate jokes or comments, unwanted attention, stalking, or displaying offensive images.
If you are unhappy or uncomfortable with the behavior of others at EED 2024, please speak to one of the organizers or email us (). Your comments will be taken seriously and treated confidentially. If you do not treat others with the respect and tolerance we all deserve, you may be asked to leave.

There are four categories of talks. The time of your talk can be found in the preliminary program by looking for the symposium (S numbers) and the category (contributed = contributed session or invited speaker = symposium). The length of your presentation can be found below:

Contributed talk: 14 minutes (12 minutes talk + 2 minutes discussion)
Contributed talk (long): 25 minutes (20 minutes talk + 5 minutes discussion)
Invited speaker: 25 minutes (20 minutes talk + 5 minutes discussion)
Plenary speaker: 45 minutes (45 minutes talk + 0 minutes discussion)

Oral presentation format: All presentations must use a PowerPoint (Microsoft) format (version 2010 and later) or a PDF. If your presentation contains any movies, be sure to test your presentation well in time. Personal laptops can be used ONLY with compatible cables & connectors provided by you (HDMI is needed as input). Apple laptops work as well, but please bring your own HDMI adapter. We recommend uploading your presentation in the respective room half a day before your presentation, but latest in the break before your session. You can upload your presentation using a USB memory stick or download it. The preferred format is widescreen 16:9 (4:3 is also allowed).

Poster presentations: Poster sizes are A0 portrait (841 x 1189 mm; 33.1 x 46.8 inches). One poster will be displayed on each side of a single board. Even numbers will be presented on Wednesday (Poster Session P01), uneven numbers on Thursday. 

Poster printing: It is possible to print posters locally. Please see below for information:
Only PDFs will be accepted for printing. Please check the print size of your file before submitting. We can scale the files up or down, but we won't be responsible for any lack of resolution, etc. in the scaling, so sending the file at its final size will give the best result. If the file size exceeds 20 MB, we recommend using a file transfer system (WeTransfer.com or equivalent). After receiving the file, we'll check the file and confirm by email. Please send all print files to

The prices are divided into two categories, early bird and normal. Early bookers will order their posters until Friday, June 14th at 9.00 am (Finnish time, GMT + 2 h), after that the normal price will apply. The last day to order is Friday, June 21, 9:00 a.m. (Finnish time). Transportation to the venue is included in the price, and we'll have a small stand there.

Payment can be made either by invoice or at the venue with a credit card at the time announced in advance. Please note that foreign institutions can be invoiced without VAT (24%), but when paying with a personal credit card, VAT will be added.
We use three different materials (prices per m2 = A0, w/o VAT, early/late)
- Matt paper 140 g/m2 (48/58 €)
- Semi-gloss photo paper 170 g/m2 (59/69 €)
- easy foldable polyester canvas 145 g/m2 (89/99 €)

When sending the file as a PDF to , the email should be titled Presenter's_last_name_Euroevodevo_requested_material.PDF. If there is a change in the person picking up the poster, PSWFolders Ltd. should be notified to make sure we have the right person's last name on the poster. If we have already printed the poster and another version is sent (e.g. for corrections), all prints will be charged.

If you want to print something else in Finland instead of ordering transport, don't hesitate to contact us. We print roll-ups, brochures, flyers, business cards, etc., and deliver them to the venue or customer's hotel at the requested time.

As of 2024, citizens from can enter Finland without a visa for short-term stays. We recommend to carefully review the  accepted by Finland as provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland.

In general, traveling can involve some bureaucracy when applying for a visa. In order to make your participation in EED2024 as easy as possible, we provide below the most important guidelines, information and links for visa applicants. For detailed information and instructions issued by the Finnish government, please visit the . There you will find details on all matters concerning your visit to Finland.

The exact application process depends on the country of origin and more details can be found . As the visa is only intended for short-term travel, the application is relatively straight forward. All attendees that require a visa will be applying for a Schengen visa that allows for a 90-day stay within any 180-day period in all Schengen countries. To apply for a visa, please follow the steps on the or download the form as a Please keep in mind, that an in person appointment at a Finish mission might be required for your visa approval!

For every visa application a list of personal documents will be have to be provided. The minimum requirements include the following documents:

1. The visa application form completed and signed
2. One photograph
3. A passport
4. Travel insurance
5. Supporting documents
6. Parental consent is required for minors
7. Possible interview

Please note that depending on the country you are travelling from, different requirements might apply. Check out the country specific documents . The application comes with a processing fee, which is usually at 80€. For more information on the processing fees, see .

The processing time for a Finnish travel visa is typically 3-4 weeks from the date of the application submission. However, this may vary based on the volume of applications and other factors so we recommend to apply for a Visa at least 6 weeks prior to the travelling dates. 

By following these steps and ensuring all required documents are in order, you increase your chances of a smooth and timely visa approval. Always check the official website of the Finnish Immigration Service for the most current and specific requirements. Safe travels!

For a sucessfull visa application you might in need of a support letter that we are happy to provide for you. Please use the following to request a letter or send us an .

 

We know, Helsinki is not the easiest city in Europe to get to, especially if you favor eco-friendly travel. But it can be worth the effort, as some of the routes are very scenic and include a nice ferry ride across the Baltic Sea. And you can even make the trip more enjoyable: Use our .

For sustainable travel, there's a great site for getting to and from Finland without flying, but it's only in Finnish (but the with direct translation enabled is a great help for using it anyway). A good one in English for all of Europe (including Finland) is . All you have to do is select Helsinki as your destination as well as your starting point, and you get all the options.

The short version of the options is

1. Take the bus/train to Stockholm and then take the ferry to Helsinki, or take the ferry from Stockholm to Turku and then take the train to Helsinki. To get to Stockholm, there is e.g. an overnight sleeper train from Hamburg, or some even from Munich/Innsbruck, or day trains.
2. Take bus/train to Travelmunde and take a direct ferry to Helsinki
3. Take a bus/train to Warsaw and a 'direct' bus to Helsinki via the Baltic States: (it's the same bus, and the Tallinn-Helsinki ferry ticket is included in the price.

Alternatively or in addition, consider the following suggestions:

• Direct flights save an average of , which is the equivalent of running a refrigerator for a year.
• Finland is a wonderful country to visit in the summer. Why not combine the EED conference with a holiday in Finland?
• Consider using carbon offset programs to balance out your flight's emissions. Many airlines offer direct options to offset carbon emissions when booking tickets.

At the European Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology, we recognize the importance of supporting participants with families. To ensure accessibility and inclusivity, we are offering free childcare during all days of EED 2024, including satellite sessions, for those who indicated interest during registration. Please contact us for more information .) Childcare will be provided by MLL, the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare (Mannerheimin Lastensuojeluliitto; ), a well-respected non-governmental organization that promotes the well-being of children, young people and families with children.

At the European Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology, we are strongly committed to the values of diversity, equality, and inclusion. Our mission is to make science a more inclusive, engaged, and equitable place, ensuring that we have different perspectives to create a better environment where everyone feels welcome.

Therefore, at this year's EED meeting (), we offered fully funded scholarships (travel to the conference, accommodation, and conference fee cover) to applicants from low and middle-income countries. The successful applicants will present their work at the meeting, network with scientists from around the world, and have their work recognized by their peers. Individuals from disadvantaged groups and early career researchers were especially encouraged to apply for this fellowship program.

A total of eight applications were received until the deadline on January 31, 2024, and three fellowships were awarded by a selection committee based on a set of criteria (country of research organization, career stage, justification, and scientific abstract). The fellowships were partially funded by the Company of Biologists.

At EED 2024, we aim to create opportunities for social interaction and welcome new members. Badge ribbons for speakers, poster presenters, and first-time attendees will make it easier to connect. Food and drinks will be served during poster sessions, and a dedicated table will be available for first-time attendees to meet. In the evenings, The will serve as the designated conference pub to make it easy to socialize with other attendees. Also, a conference party with a live band and DJ will follow the conference dinner, open to all attendees.

Our commitment to sustainable practices is embedded in our catering arrangements. We are emphasizing the use of locally sourced foods with minimal carbon footprints, with a particular focus on vegetarian food for the conference catering. The University of Helsinki, our conference venue, aligns perfectly with our sustainability ethos. With their existing green initiatives that focus on reducing energy consumption, encouraging recycling, and promoting the use of public transportation or walking for local commutes during the event, we are confident in our collective effort towards minimizing environmental impact. Finally, by adding a local dimension to our environmental commitment, we have partnered with the . Conference T-shirts could be obtained by a donation of at least 10€ to the foundation made towards protecting Finnish old-growth forests. This demonstrates our dedication to the environment and promoting active involvement from our attendees. Over this initative, 5060€ have been donated that will be used to protect 10120 square meters of Finnish primeval forest and that will be under according to the Nature Conservation Act.

The location of our conference, next to the Helsinki Senate Square, offers a unique opportunity for public engagement. Recognized as a melting pot of Helsinki's social life and tourism, this location is ideal for outreach activities. During the conference, researchers from the University of Helsinki will explain EvoDevo to the public in both Finnish and English, using fossils from the university's collection,.