Introducing the SETAC Europe 36th Annual Meeting: Welkom in Maastricht
Nico van den Brink on behalf of the SETAC Europe 36th Annual Meeting Programme Committee
It's been five months since the successful SETAC Europe 35th Annual Meeting in Vienna, Austria. While we’re still digesting the diverse and rich science from that meeting, we are already looking forward to inviting you to the next endeavour, the SETAC Europe 36th Annual Meeting from 17–21 May 2026 in Maastricht, Netherlands. This may seem to be far ahead, but the organization of the meeting is already in full swing and program preparations are ongoing. The call for session proposals was extremely successful, attracting more than 190 session proposals, which had to be condensed to a much smaller number to fit the meeting program. At the moment, the call for abstracts is open, and we are very much looking forward to seeing your contributions.
Meeting Theme: “Embrace the Outlier: In Science, Regulations and Networks”
The theme of the meeting is on outliers, which are matters of perspective. Firstly, in science, they are often regarded as difficult since they may hamper the clear interpretation of the results of our studies. Secondly, regulatory frameworks rely on standardized approaches, which have limited acceptance for outlying studies. And thirdly, in networks, outliers may refer to different perspectives or backgrounds of members, potentially contrasting with the prevailing opinions and customs.
Outliers, however, may be very valuable and informative. In scientific studies, unexpected, outlying data can be the start of new scientific endeavors, leading to innovative insights and understanding. In some regulatory arenas, recent discussions have focused on the inclusion of new, non-standard studies and results in the assessment of risks of substances. In research networks, outlying opinions and perspectives may be very essential to broadening discussions and open-minded points of view.
The theme, “Embrace the Outlier: in Science, regulations and networks“ was selected to challenge the SETAC community to acknowledge outliers and value their potential merits. SETAC is considered to be an inclusive, diverse community. And indeed, we are truly international and integrate very different disciplines and stakeholders. Nevertheless, we should recognize that large parts of our society, for instance, citizens and farmers, are only included to a limited extent in SETAC. From our perspective, these can be considered outliers. However, considering the enormous societal challenges related to the sustainable management of our living environment, it is essential that we, as SETAC, connect to those who are outliers, from our perspective. This demands true interest in them, based on focused, non-scientific communication strategies and engagement, which may be potentially outside our current comfort zones. This might even be one of the biggest challenges for the SETAC membership, which should be addressed in Maastricht.
Session proposals have engaged with the meeting theme very well, and we are looking forward to seeing abstracts that truly embrace outliers from different perspectives.
Maastricht: From Roman Settlement to Modern City
Maastricht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, some claim it is the oldest, dating back to Roman times. It provides an ideal destination for scientific conferences due to its central location within Europe (can be reached by different airports and train systems), a strong academic ecosystem with Maastricht University, and excellent facilities. Located at the crossroads of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, it is an inspiring setting for academic exchange. It offers a high-quality experience because of its historic charm, walkable city center, and vibrant cultural life. The city center blends medieval streets, fortification walls, historic churches and modern creative districts, giving it a feel quite unlike many other Dutch cities. And also, unlike much of the Netherlands, which is very flat, the Limburg region (where Maastricht is) has rolling hills and landscapes that feel somewhat more “southern European” than what many expect of the Netherlands. Maastricht is a quintessential European city. It is where the Maastricht Treaty (1992) was signed, the agreement that laid important foundations for the European Union.
MECC Maastricht, the meeting venue, is a modern and well-equipped conference center that has hosted numerous international scientific events. Its compact layout means that conference venues, hotels and restaurants are within walking distance, allowing for smooth logistics and more informal networking. One of Maastricht’s most iconic squares, the Vrijthof, is lined with terraces, bars and excellent restaurants. It’s the anchor for exploring Maastricht on foot and likely to be a central place to meet other SETACers. This square is about a 30–40-minute walk from the venue, or 10 minutes by bike. This proximity ensures not only the chance to enjoy great science but also excellent opportunities for networking. The region’s gastronomy further enhances this experience, with a focus on local producers, high-quality regional ingredients, and a strong “farm-to-table” mentality. Special mention should be made of the “Limburgse vlaai,” the sweet tart- or pie‑style dessert for which the region is famous.
From a Dutch perspective, Maastricht may be a bit of an outlier, both geographically as well as culturally. This makes it a most appropriate place for the SETAC Europe 36th Annual Meeting, themed “Embrace the Outlier: In Science, Regulations and Networks.” We think this SETAC Europe meeting is poised to deliver a world-class experience – and your participation will be key to making it happen. The call for abstracts is now open, and we warmly encourage you to start drafting your abstracts on the meeting themes and topics across the different tracks.
Contact: [email protected]