Journal of Experimental Biology Symposium 2024
Integrating Biomechanics, Energetics and Ecology in Locomotion
Organisers: Andrew Biewener, Alan Wilson
Date: 18-22 March 2024
Location: Hotel Eiger, Mürren, Switzerland
Linking biomechanics and energetics is challenging for all forms of locomotion, especially in the context of free-ranging movement in the natural environment. Traditionally, biomechanists relate to mechanics, physiologists focus on metabolic energy consumption – often in a laboratory context – and ecologists rely on field-based proxies of movement and energy use, such as accelerometry. For all three groups, direct measurements in the field are usually challenging so an integrative framework would be valuable. Such a framework would strengthen the biological and scientific relevance of both field and laboratory measurements, while a shared conceptual framework would enable better experimental data and information flow at the interface of the disciplines.
The aim of this symposium is to promote cross-disciplinary understanding and establish a common framework for studies that link energy consumption, muscle function and locomotor mechanics in terrestrial, aerial and aquatic locomotion. The meeting will bring together key innovators working across the traditional boundaries of biomechanics, ecology and physiology to examine multidisciplinary approaches for investigating how animals use energy to power movement. We want speakers to be forward-thinking, even speculative, with an emphasis on novel approaches and questions to address in their field and opportunities for integration across disciplines.
The presentations from the meeting will be shared with the wider scientific community by being published as Review/Commentary articles in a supplementary special issue of JEB in early 2025.
Organisers & speakers
Alexander Badri-Sprowitz KU Leuven, Belgium and MPI for Intelligent Systems, Germany
Roxanne Beltran University of California, Santa Cruz, USA
Valentina Di Santo Stockholm University, Sweden
Federico Formenti King’s College London, UK
Brad Gemmell University of South Florida, USA
Jeremy Goldbogen Stanford University, USA
Lucy Hawkes University of Exeter, UK
Anders Hedenström Lund University, Sweden
Robyn Hetem University of Canterbury, New Zealand
Timothy Higham University of California, Riverside, USA
James Liao University of Florida, USA
Glen Lichtwark Queensland University of Technology, Australia
Herman Pontzer Duke University, USA
Gregory Sawicki Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
Judy Shamoun-Baranes University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Jessica Selinger Queen’s University, Canada
Emily Shepard Swansea University, UK
Programme
The symposium is open to invited speakers and delegates only.
However, all presentations will be published as a special issue of Journal of Experimental Biology in early 2025.
Venue
The Symposium will be held in the Hotel Eiger in the charming Swiss village of Mürren, which is easily accessible by train from international airports at Zürich, Bern, Basel and Geneva. As the highest altitude ski resort in the Bernese Oberland, car-free Mürren is perched on a high terrace facing the famous Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains.
Hotel Eiger Mürren
Aegerten
3825 Mürren
Switzerland
Tel: +41 33 856 54 54
Fax: +41 33 856 54 56
E-Mail: info@hoteleiger.com
Website: www.hoteleiger.com/en/
Travel
Mürren is 154 km/96 miles from Zürich. Travel time from Zürich airport is approximately 2.5 hours by car and 3.5 hours by train. The resort is 231 km/144 miles from Geneva and 72 km/45 miles from Bern.
Mürren is located in the Bernese Oberland. It is a car-free mountain resort on a rock ledge at 1650 m altitude, reachable either via Lauterbrunnen (cable car + tram) or via Stechelberg (two cable cars).
Public transport in Switzerland is well-known for its reliability and is the easiest way to get to car-free Mürren.
By air
Zürich (ZRH) is the largest airport in Switzerland, with the most scheduled flights. You can also get international flights to Bern (BRN), Basel (MLH) and Geneva (GVA). Zürich and Geneva have good rail connections from within the airport and we advise you to use the rail system to get to Mürren (see below).
By rail
The Swiss Federal Railway (SBB) has an online booking system and you can plan your route and pre-purchase your tickets online up to six months prior to your date of travel (for further information, see FAQs for purchasing tickets online). A variety of ticket offers are available (which may provide savings if you also intend to take some vacation as part of your trip) but most people will only require a return ticket from the airport (Flughafen) to Mϋrren (Mürren BLM). You may need to search for Muerren online.
Tickets purchased online can either be printed or downloaded to your phone, tablet, etc. Alternatively, you can buy a return ticket at the ticket counter or the ticket machines in the airport. A second-class return ticket from Zürich Flughafen (airport) to Mϋrren BLM via the route below is currently CHF 193 online and the journey takes approximately 3 hours 10 mins. Detailed instructions for all train and platform changes can be viewed online on your chosen route.
Route from Zϋrich airport to Mϋrren BLM:
- From the airport, take the train to Interlaken Ost directly or, if not available, to Bern. Please check the SBB website for details.
- At Bern, if needed, change platforms and take the train to Interlaken Ost
- At Interlaken Ost, change to the Bernese Oberland Railway (BOB) to Lauterbrunnen.
- From Lauterbrunnen, take the mountain railway (BLM) to Mürren via Grütschalp.
- The BLM station is directly opposite the hotel.
If you are flying into Basel, you will need to get a bus from the airport to the railway station and then take a train to Interlaken Ost and follow steps 3-5 above.
If you are flying into Geneva, take the train from the airport to Bern and then follow steps 2-5 above. Note that the journey will take at least 4 hours 15 minutes.
If your flights are delayed, note that the last BLM connection from Lauterbrunnen to Mürren (step 4 above) generally leaves Lauterbrunnen at 8.35pm (arriving in Mürren at 8.55pm). If you arrive at Lauterbrunnen later than this, you will need to take a bus to Stechelberg and then take the Schilthornbahn cable car to Mürren. The last cable car departs Stechelberg at 11.45pm (arriving in Mürren at 11.55pm).
By road
If you are driving to the venue, you will need to park your car in Lauterbrunnen and take the Mϋrrenbahn mountain railway (BLM) to car-free Mürren. Train timetables and online booking are available at the SBB website. The multi-storey car park in Lauterbrunnen is connected internally with the BLM, and parking can be reserved if you stay minimum 5 days (click here for details). Alternatively, you drive to Stechelberg, park your car at the Schilthornbahn station. From there, you take the cable car up to Mürren.
Accompanying persons
Spouses/domestic partners are welcome to accompany invited delegates to the meeting. To cover the costs of the accommodation, catering and social event, the registration fee will be CHF 830 (Swiss francs). The fee assumes two people sharing a double room and that accompanying persons will NOT attend the scientific sessions.
Registration fee (CHF 830) for accompanying persons includes:
- Accommodation for four nights (18-21 March)
- Welcome Reception on 18 March
- Breakfast on 19-22 March
- Lunch on 19-21 March
- Dinner on 18-20 March
- Conference dinner on 21 March
- Social event on 20 March
To register an accompanying person, please email us by 5 January 2024.
Charges may be incurred for cancellations after 29 February 2024.
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