Welcome to the website of the CONGres!
The CONGres is an annual conference organised by about ten students: the conference committee of CONGO, which is the study association for students of Biology, Biomedical Sciences and Psychobiology at the University of Amsterdam.
Once a year, since 2006, the conference committee has presented a surprising and inspiring series of lectures in English within a theme relevant to biology. The conference committee’s goal is to put together an interdisciplinary program with internationally renowned speakers.
The CONGres is mainly aimed at students of Biology, Biomedical Sciences and Psychobiology. Roughly half of the attendees are members of the study association, and half consists of other students, teachers and people who are interested and they too are, of course, more than welcome.
In the months preceding the CONGres a number of lectures are usually provided, as a warm-up for your intellectual interests. The conference itself is a whole day, in which subjects are discussed that are relevant to the central topic. We will also be tending to your bodily needs by providing lunch during the day and drinks afterwards.
The conference committee starts organising roughly ten months in advance. Tasks are divided among the members and many different themes for the conference are discussed. Once a theme is chosen, it’s time for action. A lot of things have to be arranged to make the CONGres into a success: a date, a location, speakers, sponsors and the website are just a few examples.
Judging by, among other things, the number of visitors to our conference each year, the CONGres can be called a success: there were 120 visitors during the first CONGres in 2006, Biological Warfare, and over 300 during the 2007 edition of Brains, Technology and the Future. The last two conferences, Science and Religion in 2008 and Sex: an Evolutionary Success Story in 2009 sold out, having 450 attendees.
The preparations for the next CONGres are on their way and will be reported on this website for you to check out! Enjoy!