Meet us in Aarhus in 2022
For the Emerging Concepts in Cell and Developmental Biology Meeting
About Aarhus.
Aarhus is the second largest city in Denmark, and over the past years, it has become a popular venue for international scientific conferences. According to the ICCA global ranking, Aarhus is now among the top 75 destinations for international meetings worldwide.
Located on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula, Aarhus has a population of c. 340,000. Aarhus is a university town, with the youngest urban population in Denmark, but it is also one of the country’s oldest cities, as it was founded in the Viking age. This mix of youthful energy and rich history is what makes Aarhus special.
The City of Smiles.
There is plenty to see and to do in downtown Aarhus, all within walking distance. One of the most popular areas is Vadestedet, where cafés, restaurants and fashionable shops line the Aarhus River.
Another must-see area is the Latin Quarter, a historic downtown area replete with quirky shops, innovative restaurants and slanted cobblestone streets. This is the place to go for the alternative food, fashion and Danish design that you won’t find on the high street. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered… through the conference you will experience the Natural History Museum (Welcome Reception) and ARoS Art Museum (Conference Dinner and day pass). You can visit the old town (Den Gamle By) with a free day pass. We recommend you stay for the weekend to enjoy the best of Aarhus.
Blue and green spaces.
Aarhus is surrounded by sea and by forests. All around the city, you will find ancient woodland with wildlife preserves, and beaches and canals in every direction. In the heart of the city, there are green oases everywhere - perfect spots for some quiet relaxation. The greenhouses in the Botanical Garden, Marselisborg Memorial Park and the University Park are just some of the parks in the city that deserve a visit.
Visitors with an active lifestyle will find plenty of running routes, bike paths, outdoor and indoor gyms and places to swim. In the summer, there’s nothing better than a refreshing dip in the clean waters of the Aarhus bay: waterfronts like the Harbor Bath, Ballehage Beach, Den Permanente and the swimming lanes north of Aarhus are all easily accessible.
For more information see www.visitaarhus.com,
ARoS Art Museum (Aarhus Central). Image credit: Anders Trærup
The Infinite Bridge; image credit: Photopop
Biking in Aarhus; image credit Photopop
Aarhus Docklands; image credit: Roar Paaske
Aarhus Docklands; image credit: Roar Paaske
Salling Rooftop; image credit: Photopop
The Botanic Gardens; image credit: Science Museerne
Image credit: Roar Paaske
Image Credit: Roar Paaske.
Getting here.
By plane:
Via Copenhagen Airport.
For most international visitors, the most convenient way of getting to Aarhus is via Copenhagen Airport, which has direct connections to airports all over the world. You can take a train directly from the airport to Aarhus Main Station (c. 3,5 hours): simply search for trains from “CPH Lufthavn” to “Aarhus H” at the DSB website to book your ticket.
Via Billund Airport.
Closer to Aarhus is Billund Airport, which has direct connections to many European cities. A shuttle can take you directly from the airport to downtown Aarhus (c. 1,5 hours). You can find the departure times of the shuttle at the journey-planner website Rejseplanen.dk by searching for connections between “Billund Airport (bus)” and “Aarhus Rutebilstation”. Tickets can be purchased on the bus with all major credit cards and Danish kroner.
Via Aarhus Airport.
Aarhus also has its own airport, with direct flights to a selection of European cities. You can also transfer at Copenhagen Airport for a flight to Aarhus (although a train would be more environmentally friendly). From the airport, a shuttle will take you to the city centre (c. 50 minutes), and it includes a stop just outside the Aarhus University campus, “Nobelparken”. Tickets can be purchased on the bus with cash (including euro, American dollars, British pounds) and with select credit cards.
By train and bus:
Aarhus Central Station, “Aarhus H”, lies in the heart in the city. If you are traveling from southern or central Europe, you can connect to a train to Aarhus at Hamburg (c. 5 hours); if you are travelling from the rest of Scandinavia or from eastern Europe, you can catch a connection at Copenhagen Central Station (c. 3,5 hours). You can plan your journey and purchase your ticket at the DSB website for international travellers. The main intercity bus services operating in Denmark are Flixbus and Kombardo.
By car:
Aarhus has direct connections to the European highway network, making it easy to get there from most European cities. The Danish road system is free to access, with the exception of ferries and bridges. From Hamburg, the drive to Aarhus is c. 4 hours; from Copenhagen, it is c. 3 hours.
Covid-19 restrictions:
For the latest news on travel restrictions to and from Denmark in connection with the Covid-19 virus, visit the Danish government’s information website for international visitors.
In your welcome tote-bag, we will provide a COVID rapid testing kit and surgical mask. You can use the kit, return the kit, donate the kit or save it for your return journey. We only ask that you exercise your best judgement and abide by country specific requirements, as they evolve.
Avoid the hassle of travelling with a poster
Opt to have us print it for you! Please specify this when invited to register. There will be a small fee to (partially) cover the cost of poster printing. There will be no re-prints. To ensure the poster is ready for the first day of the conference, please provide us with the poster before or on the deadline. Late posters will not be printed.
Green initiatives.
Travelling to a conference has a significant environmental impact. But, of course, there are things that we can do to minimise our footprint. Below are some of the things that we have decided to do at the Emerging Concepts in Cell and Developmental Biology Meeting. We hope that you can work with us in the spirit of ‘reimagining the conference experience’ as we try to create a meeting that is not only more inclusive but also more sustainable…
A hybrid meeting.
The Emerging Concepts in Cell and Developmental Biology Meeting will be a hybrid meeting. We are striving to deliver as much of the scientific content as possible to virtual participants, with clear audio, visuals and mechanisms to field questions from those participating online. We will stream the Future of Publishing breakout session to virtual registrants. With strong support from The Company of Biologists and The Node, we will prepare a meeting report discussing the scientific outcomes of the meeting, but also summarising the conversations around the culture of science.
A greener menu.
Vegetarians delight! In line with AU’s sustainable conferencing goals, the food that we serve will be mainly be vegetarian or vegan. Meat-based meals will be opt-in (rather than the usual opt-out!). Our food will still be delicious and respectful of allergies and intolerances (please specify dietary requirements when invited to the second phase of registration).
Reusable AU bottles.
On average, a conference participant drinks two bottles of water every day, so over the three days of this conference, this would add up to over 500 disposable plastic bottles. To avoid this, we provide conference participants with a reusable water bottle instead.
Danish tap water is pure, clean and delicious, so there is no reason to drink bottled water in Aarhus. The reusable bottles also eliminate the use of plastic cups and the water and energy that would go into washing up glasses. Please bring it home with you after the conference and keep filling it.
Conference materials.
We have replaced the usual glossy conference brochures with PDF and online content, so that participants can view what they need on their device or print it ahead of time if absolutely required. We will still provide some notepaper and pens for those that prefer to write their notes.
Getting around.
Most places in Aarhus C can be reached on foot. In your welcome pack you will receive a free light rail pass* that will help you get to/from the conference if staying in the city centre. There are also bike rental companies and a light rail line that stops at the main campus.
*Light rail passes will be provided for non-Danish conference attendees, who will be new to Danish public transportation and may otherwise struggle to use it. We anticipate that those travelling within Denmark will already have a Rejsekort and/or Danish currency to purchase a ticket at the station.
Image credit: Robin Skjoldborg (top) and Anders Trærup (bottom) (www.visitaarhus.com)
Green cafes & restaurants in Aarhus.
If you are searching for a place to have dinner on your free evenings in town, we recommend considering some of the local cafes and restaurants that have committed to sustainability. A reservation may be required:
Cafe Glad (Danish website)
Cafe Langhoff & Juhl (Danish website, only open for dinner Thursday to Saturday)
Cafe Gaya (vegetarian focus)
L’øst (English website)
Restaurant L’Estragon (Danish website)
Karma Sushi (Danish website)
Image credit: Frame & Work (www.visitaarhus.com)
“Must visit places” according to Aarhus locals
The list is long and the VisitAarhus has got it all covered, but the following sites have been particularly recommended by the locals:
• ARoS Aarhus / Art museum (the location of the Thursday night conference dinner, which includes free entry to the museum on this day)
• The Natural History Museum (the location of our welcome lecture and reception on Wednesday night)
• The Old City (”Den Gamle By”) (you will receive a ticket for free entry in your
registration pack)
• The Botanic Garden, right next to Den Gamle By (photo right)
• Dyrehaven (deer park), Marselisborg forest and Tivoli Friheden (amusement park)
• Mindeparken (memorial park)
• A stroll along the “the waterfront” all the way to the Dome of Visions and Aarhus Ø
• The Latin Quarter for “hygge”
• Street food by the railway station
• A final tip: rather than along the river, look for restaurants and cafés in the smaller streets in the area or on Jægergårdsgade 61
Image credit: Kasper Harnbæk (www.visitaarhus.com)
Places to stay.
There are many places to stay in Aarhus city. As it is summer, many hotels may be booked in advance, so we highly recommend you arrange accommodation sooner rather than later. Some possibilities..
Scandic City
Address: Østergade 10, 8000 Aarhus C
Cabinn Aarhus
Address: Kannikegade 14, 8000 Aarhus C
Book1 (Hostel)
Adress: Møllegade 3A, 8000 Aarhus
Some of the hotels in and around Aarhus can also be found here (note this website includes some hotels outside of the city centre, please check location with respect to the adjacent. Please check prices directly with hotels or booking companies. Unfortunately, the conference organisers cannot arrange hotels or hotel deals at this time of year.