18th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering

To make this edition unique and memorable, some creative ideas provided effective solutions and memorable social events. These included unique experiences such as: - An evening at La Scala: To make the congress truly memorable, an exclusive evening was organised at La Scala Theatre. For one evening, the world-famous temple of opera closed its doors to the public and welcomed only congress delegates to see Puccini's opera Turandot. The 1,800 guests enjoyed a very special and unique congress experience in Milan. - Congress party: On the final evening, instead of the traditional seated gala dinner, 1,300 guests were entertained by a live band at the Super Studio Maxi in Milan. - Table football tournament at the conference venue: Over 30 teams took part in more than 60 matches, promoting team building and networking among delegates. - A Congress anthem, Fighting Against Time, was written and performed at the Opening Ceremony and broadcast during the lunch break

Several innovations have been introduced in this edition: - Exhibition area: For the first time, a large area was dedicated to exhibitors, who numbered over 110. In the past, the number of sponsoring companies present with a stand was less than 10, whereas this edition saw strong support from industry partners. - Field visits: Organised technical visits to relevant sites such as EUCENTRE test laboratories and public transport control rooms. - Monitor Presentations: an area with 30 monitors was set up for live presentations by the author of the scientific paper, with two moderators and the possibility of direct interaction with the audience around, for a total of more than 160 sessions over the 5 days. - The "Seismulator": for the first time, a shaking platform allowed participants to experience first-hand the vibrations of an earthquake (of three degrees) and then compare them with those felt in buildings constructed according to earthquake-resistant standards and equipment.

Managing such a complex event, with a very rich and varied scientific content and social programme, required: • Effective planning and coordination: meticulous project management ensured seamless coordination with the client, suppliers and partners. • Staff and logistics: Dedicated teams managed various aspects of the event to ensure smooth execution. • Client relations: Maintained strong relationships with the client to ensure their objectives were met.

The results were staggering: - Delegate attendance: Over 4,250 delegates from 82 countries attended, breaking previous records. - Scientific contributions: Nearly 4,000 papers presented, moderated by 340 convenors, 160 oral monitor presentation. - Delegates engagement: 1,300 experiences on the Seismulator - Exhibitor Participation: An incredible increase in exhibitor presence to over 110, demonstrating strong industry commitment. - Social media and feedback: Positive attendee feedback and significant social media engagement. Client Satisfaction: "The 18th WCEE was an amazing success, generating enthusiastic feedback from its 4000 attendees ... the event featured radical changes from the past... Everything worked perfectly and exceeded even the most optimistic expectations... We have now set a new model and standard for future editions..." said Prof. Rui Pinho - Chairman of the Organising Committee.

The organisations promoting the event - the International Association of Earthquake Engineering (IAEE), the Italian National Association of Earthquake Engineering (ANIDIS) and the Fondazione EUCENTRE - have strong relationships with their members, which have been managed over the months with constant live, digital and hybrid communications. For the conference, the communications plan included - Marketing and outreach: Comprehensive communications strategy using digital platforms, email campaigns and social media. - Stakeholder engagement: Regular updates and communications with stakeholders to keep them informed and engaged.

WCEE2024 has a strong commitment to sustainability: • Recycled materials: Recycled polyester lanyards, natural cotton bags and certified recycled paper badges. • Digital alternatives: Digital programmes, conference apps and electronic certificates of attendance to reduce the use of printed materials. • Food for Good: Surplus food from coffee breaks and lunches was collected and donated to local charities through the Food for Good programme. • Supporting young people: 50 tickets to the performance at La Scala were offered to opera schools to support the education of young students by allowing them to attend the performance free of charge.