COMULISglobe proudly announces the
COMULISglobe Conference
January 20th-21st, 2025
& CLEM Workshop January
22nd-24th, 2025
Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Following the successful COMULIS conferences in Austria, Sweden and Cyprus, the next COMULIS conference will expand beyond European borders.
We are thrilled to announce the upcoming COMULISglobe Conference at Stellenbosch University (https://www.sun.ac.za), South Africa from January 20th-21st, 2025.
This conference is designed to bring global experts, researchers, facility staff and exhibitors together from different imaging modalities to stimulate knowledge exchange and the formation of new collaborations. The conference program offers an attractive combination of oral presentations and posters regarding CLEM techniques from sample preparation to image analysis.
Conference Registration is now closed!
For attendees from low or middle-income* countries, the conference registration fee is USD 50 for students and USD 100 for non-students. Participants from high-income countries are required to pay a fee of USD 250. This fee includes meals and refreshments for the duration of the conference.
This exciting scientific meeting will take place as an in-person event.
January 22nd - 24th we will offer a Correlated Multimodal Imaging workshop at Stellenbosch University as well as Tygerberg Campus. The workshop is free if charge, but a selection process will be followed.
Only participants of the conference are eligible for the workshop.
We are very much looking forward to welcoming you to Stellenbosch, to join us in person at the COMULIS Conference for what is certain to be a very exciting, energizing, and stimulating meeting. On behalf of the entire COMULISglobe Conference Organizing Committee, we extend an invitation to You to join us in South Africa!
Lize Engelbrecht
Stellenbosch University
Chair of the COMULIS 2024 Organizing Committee
comulissociety@gmail.com
After the conference and in parallel to the workshop, we are happy to share that we can offer a satellite symposium at the Electron Microscope Unit of the University of Cape Town in the morning of January 22nd, 2025.
Logistical Information
Air travel
Before planning your trip, we recommend checking the current visa requirements with your local embassy or consulate. Some information is available here. We encourage all visitors to South Africa to ensure that you have acquired all the required travel documents and print copies of documents relevant to travel, including official air tickets.
Locations and addresses
Airport: Cape Town International Airport, Matroosfontein, Cape Town, 7490
Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
Accommodation:
Travel grantees and invited speakers
We provide accommodation for our travel grantees and invited speakers who are travelling from outside Stellenbosch from 19-25 January 2025.
Crozierhof
22 Crozier Street, Stellenbosch
https://stayatstellies.co.za/our-accommodation/crozierhof-rates/
These are flats with shared rooms with basic amenities for self-catering, but we will provide food vouchers to our student centre, The Neelsie, to cover for meals not provided during the conference and workshop.
The accommodation is within walking distance of the conference venue and the workshop locations in Stellenbosch. For the workshop sessions at Tygerberg, transport will be arranged by the organisers.
Several Other options in Stellenbosch:
These are only some recommendations. Other options close to these would also be suitable.
Bonne Esperance Boutique Guest House, Corner of Neethling and Van Riebeeck Street, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
The Stellenbosch Hotel, Corner of Dorp and Andringa Street, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
Hotel Krige, 12 Krige Road, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
Olive Tree Private Rooms, 11 Kommandeur Road 11, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
Protea by Marriott Hotel Stellenbosch, Techno Ave, Techno Park, Stellenbosch, 7600 Protea Hotel (This is slightly further away and daily transport would be required.)
Event venue
The Comulisglobe Conference will be hosted in the Department of Physiological Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Mike de Vries building, room 2002, Merrimen Avenue, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
The Comulis CLEM workshop will be hosted in three different laboratories of the Central Analytical Facilities Microscopy Unit:
Stellenbosch main campus
· Mike de Vries building, room 2022, Merrimen Avenue, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
· Chamber of Mines building, room 1035, c/o Merrimen and Ryneveld Street, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
Tygerberg Medical Campus
· Biomedical Research Institute, South building, Room 2106, Francie van Zijl Drive, BELLVILLE, 7493
Stellenbosch overview:
Red arrows indicate the conference venue (thick arrow) and workshop venues in Stellenbosch. Orange area is the Stellenbosch Town Centre.
Ground transport
Public transport in South Africa is limited. We recommend using privately organised services such as rideshare services (i.e., Uber or Bolt) or taxicabs to get from place to place. Please see more information on this on the next page.
Getting between the airport and Stellenbosch
See suggestions at the bottom of this page for organising ground transport. Please allow 50-60 minutes of travel time when returning to the airport from Stellenbosch or Cape Town during weekday traffic (3-6 p.m.).
Travelling around Stellenbosch and Cape Town (taxicabs and ride-share information)
When needing to organise personal trips, you can use one of the following taxicab services to travel within and between Stellenbosch, Cape Town, and Cape Town International Airport. Taxi services should cost around ZAR 200-350 (~US$ 12-20) for airport transfers (depending on time and distance). Local rides within Stellenbosch should cost ZAR 40 - 150 (~US$ 2-8), depending on time and distance.
Uber or Bolt
Requires either the Uber or Bolt mobile app, downloaded from app stores; account creation is required beforehand.
Airport specific: Rideshares requested through apps such as Uber and Bolt will pick up passengers from the designated pick-up area within the airport parking building. There is clear signage in the airport directing you to the pick-up area.
Unicab
Phone: +27 21 486 1600
Excite Taxis
Phone: +27 21 448 4444
Web: http://www.excitetaxis.co.za/
Airport taxi services
Taxis can also be arranged in person upon leaving the arrival terminal of the airport. You can find more information on the Cape Town International Airport website:
Web: https://www.capetown-airport.com/taxi.php
Meals and Social Events
Lunches
Lunch will be available to all Comulis conference and workshop attendees from 20-24 January 2025 at the particular venue.
Coffee, tea, water, and light snacks
Coffee, tea, and water will be provided throughout each day as indicated in the schedule for all registered delegates, as well as light snacks during the coffee breaks.
Dining suggestions and information
Restaurants
Gino’s is a popular restaurant in central Stellenbosch.
There are also many other differently priced options available along Dorp Street.
Supermarket
The nearby Checkers supermarket has a deli, fresh produce, and groceries as well as a pharmacy.
The Eikestad Mall, which is walking distance from the venue, offers a wide selection of shops and eateries
Useful information
Electrical Adapters
Please note that South Africa has two commonly found plugs: 3- or 2-pin plugs. South Africa operates on a 230V supply voltage at 50Hz. The 3-pin plug points (type D) are most common and adapters from 2-pin (type C) to 3-pin are commonly used as a result.
Please ensure your adapter is SA compliant. Travel adapters can be purchased at stores within the Airport or at stores such as Cape Union Mart.
Type D plug
Type C plug
Currency
The local currency found in South Africa is the South African Rand (denoted as R; and formally presented as ZAR).
If you intend to use cash while in South Africa, please ensure you have South African Rands on hand as other currencies are not accepted.
Foreign currency can be converted at foreign exchange stores located within the Airport building.
Foreign bank cards can be used to withdraw South African currency from ATMs. However, please expect additional bank charges for using this service.
Wi-Fi and cellular services
Wi-Fi is generally available at hotels, the event venue, as well as in popular public areas and certain restaurants. Cape Town International Airport, Stellenbosch University and University of Cape Town areas each all access to Eduroam.
If desired, data SIMs can be purchased from a variety of retailers (i.e., Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Telkom) within the airport or local shopping centres. Foreign visitors will need to present their passport information in order to purchase a pre-paid SIM card.
Pre-paid data can be purchased at a rate of approximately R60 (US$ 3.50) per 1GB data. Once a SIM card has been purchased, additional data top-ups can be bought in-store or through the associated app that will need to be downloaded. It is best to purchase data in-store if using foreign banking details.
eSIMs providing data can also be purchased using services such as Airalo (US$ 4.50 for 1GB & seven days of use; alternative plans available).
Tipping
South Africa has a tipping culture, and the general rule is to start at 10%. Many people who work in the service industry rely on these tips to make a living wage, so often tips are higher than 10%.
Tipping will not be necessary within the event program. However, when you venture out for dinners or other tourist activities, and when using transport services, the following information may be useful: https://www.capetownmagazine.com/tipping-south-africa
Safety Information
Crime is an unfortunate reality in South Africa and it is advised that precautions are taken where possible to reduce the likelihood of opportunistic thefts. Be particularly alert at the airport and make use of reputable transport—Uber or a metered taxi service from the booths within the airport.
Being a smaller town, Stellenbosch is relatively safe and walking between popular areas is safe. But it is not recommended to walk around unnecessarily after dark in poorly lit or isolated areas unless walking in a group of at least 3 people—please remain alert to your surroundings and don’t put yourself into vulnerable situations.
Likewise, if you visit Cape Town, most popular parts of the city and surroundings are relatively safe. Walking during the day is typically safe as long as you use your “street smarts,” the way you would in any big city. Be aware of your surroundings, keep your valuables tucked away, and avoid very isolated areas. Do not walk alone at night, and do not go hiking alone.
When using a bank machine or ATM, it is recommended to choose one in a well-lit area or inside a shopping centre.
Please make use of your hotel safe for passports and valuables if you have one, and try to avoid walking alone with cameras, mobile phones, etc. visible, or large amounts of cash on your person. When carrying cameras or using your mobile phone in public, simply be aware of your surroundings.
Card payment options are ubiquitous in South Africa—with tap-and-go payment options (bank card NFC, Apple Pay, etc.) being particularly common. We recommend using card facilities instead of carrying large amounts of cash to make purchases. However, please expect additional charges if using foreign bank cards.
Emergency contacts:
Lize Engelbrecht: +27 79 699 4131
South African Police Service: 10111 or +27 21 680 9580
Ambulance service: 10177
INSTRUCTIONS FOR POSTERS & PRESENTATIONS
Poster Submission is now closed. Selected abstracts will be notified shortly.
Posters should be A0 portrait size (or smaller), pins will be provided to attach the poster to the poster boards.
Delegates presenting the slides are requested to send their presentations in advance, if at all possible, by 9am CET on Friday, January 10th, 2025 to this email address daniela.kuzdaswood@gmail.com
File name should be following format: Talk [2025 01 date] Weekday Time Presenter Name
