Biomechanical simulation techniques for evolutionary morphology

SYMPOSIUM: BIOMECHANICAL SIMULATION TECHNIQUES FOR EVOLUTIONARY MORPHOLOGY AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE (27th of May 2025)

Event Location: Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
Free of charge, open to everyone upon online registration.

Over the last decade, numerical biomechanical analyses such as finite element analysis have gained a prominent place in palaeontology, comparative anatomy and biological anthropology, helping researchers to test hypotheses about how living and extinct organisms work.

This symposium aims to bring together world-leading experts in experimental biology and modelling techniques to foster interdisciplinary discussion and enhance collaboration. Keynote talks given by international speakers will highlight recent advances in both experimental approaches and computational modelling in the fields of evolutionary biomechanics and biomedical science. In addition, roundtables will allow participants to discuss the opportunities land imitations offered by in silico modelling in the fields of evolutionary biology and biomedicine, and how its integration with experimental approaches can be enhanced.

Confirmed keynote speakers:

• Prof. Alex Blanke, University of Bonn, Germany.
• Dr. Maïtena Dumont, Université de Rouen, France.
• Mr. Hady George, University of Bristol, UK.
• Dr. Anthony Herrel, CNRS/MNHN, France.

• Dr. Armita Manafzadeh, Yale University, USA (Zoom talk).
• Prof. Mehran Moazen, University College London, UK.
• Prof. Emily Rayfield, University of Bristol, UK.
• Prof. Callum Ross, University of Chicago, USA.
• Prof. Sam Van Wassenbergh, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
• Dr. Nicolas Vanderesse, Université de Bordeaux, France.

Poster presentation: Attendees are encouraged to present posters. If you wish to submit a poster presentation, please include the following items in a single PDF file: the poster title, the list of authors and their affiliations, the presenter's email, and an abstract limited to 350 words. Poster should be printed in A0 portrait format.
Abstracts should be submitted to Hugo Dutel (hdutel@u-bordeaux.fr) and Pierre-Hadrien Decaup (pierre-hadrien.decaup@u-bordeaux.fr).
Deadline for abstract submission: May 15, 2025.

WORKSHOP: INTRODUCTION TO FINITE ELEMENT METHODS (26th & 28th of May 2025)

This symposium is combined with two-day long workshop open to 15 PhD students and early career researchers. The workshop is an introduction to finite element analysis to simulate the structural behaviour of skeletal tissues. Through hand-on activities, participants will discover the basic steps to build a finite element model, and how modelling choices (mesh complexity and density, loading conditions, etc.) and input variables (material properties, muscle parameters, etc.) impact the output of the model. This workshop will allow participants to gain a deeper appraisal of the importance of hypothesis-driven approaches, modelling assumptions, and accurate biological parameters when engaging with biomechanical simulation techniques.

Experience in working with tomographic data and 3D virtual models is required.

This workshop is free of charge and conducted in collaboration with ADDL/ANSYS France.

To enrol the workshop, please contact directly Hugo Dutel (hdutel@u-bordeaux.fr) and Pierre-Hadrien Decaup (pierre-hadrien.decaup@u-bordeaux.fr). Please describe briefly your career stage, why you would like to attend, and how your research would benefit from this workshop.

ORGANISING COMMITTEE

Pierre-Hadrien Decaup, DDS PhD – Université de Bordeaux.
Hugo Dutel, PhD – Université de Bordeaux, University of Bristol.
Hady George, MSc – University of Bristol.
Adeline Le Cabec, PhD – Université de Bordeaux.
Antoine Souron, PhD – Université de Bordeaux.

If you have any query, please contact Hugo Dutel (hdutel@u-bordeaux.fr) and Pierre-Hadrien Decaup (pierre-hadrien.decaup@u-bordeaux.fr).

CODE OF CONDUCT

All attendees, speakers, sponsors, and volunteers at this event are required to agree with the following code of conduct. Organisers will enforce this code throughout the event. We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everybody.

Harassment in any form will not be tolerated during the symposium and workshop. Harassment refers to behaviour that is not welcome or is personally offensive, including but not limited to: epithets, slurs, or negative stereotyping; threatening, intimidating, or hostile acts; denigrating jokes; display or circulation of written graphic material that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion towards an individual or group. Harassment intended in a joking manner still constitutes unacceptable behaviour. Disrespectful disruption of presentations and other meeting activities and disrespectful commenting on presentations, individuals or groups, will not be tolerated.

Sexual harassment will not be tolerated during the symposium and workshop. Sexual harassment refers to unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual language and imagery are not appropriate for any event venue, including talks, workshops, parties, and online media.

If you experience or witness any violation of this code of conduct, report it directly to the organisers or email Antoine Souron (antoine.souron@u-bordeaux.fr) and Adeline Le Cabec (adeline.le-cabec@u-bordeaux.fr). All complaints will be treated seriously, reviewed, and responded to promptly and kept confidential.

Any participants violating these rules may be expelled from the event at the sole discretion of the event organisers.