What is the World Extreme Medicine Conference?

Founded 10 years ago by Mark Hannaford, (Founder and CEO of World Extreme Medicine) the World Extreme Medicine Conference is an exciting platform for medical minds to share experiences, innovations, best practise, promote cross-disciplinary working and generate new research.

Over the three days, the World Extreme Medicine Conference – online and in Edinburgh – attracts thousands of professionals, bringing together the world’s most respected names in extreme medicine alongside delegates from over 30 countries. It challenges thinking, builds bridges and introduces new ideas about medicine at its most remote and austere.

What makes us different?

We’re free of sponsorship and therefore our conference content does not contain commercially influenced material, pitches or product talks.

Why should I come to #WEM21?

Let’s start with Dr Will Duffin, Content Director of #WEM21, on why this year’s conference is so important…

A little reminder of the extreme benefits to you and your career:

• Learn from 80+ of the most convention-breaking, discipline-blending, boundary-shattering medics this side of the known universe.
• Uncover how rudimentary equipment can be used in ways you never expected to tip the balance of life and death.
• Get your hands dirty learning cutting-edge field-proven techniques both indoors and in outdoor ‘rain or shine’ technical sessions.* (Will be streamed online, but your hands will be clean unless you come to Edinburgh!)
• Immerse yourself in visceral real-world simulations, including our hugely popular live action ‘mass casualty’ simulation.*
• Unlock the secrets to becoming a specialist in extreme medicine by connecting with world leaders in extreme medicine and unlock the secrets to becoming a specialist yourself – from war surgeon or humanitarian, to emergency first responder or Arctic expedition medic.
• Network with career-defining organisations including NASA, the ICRC and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Our online environment will use artificial intelligence to connect you with relevant people and businesses.
• Suit up for evening events and bracing morning runs with our team of maverick medics* (This year we even have a surprise treat – think modern Vivaldi playing exclusively for you)
  • Earn up to 18 CPD credits to prove your continued dedication to your development.

(*Accessible only if attending in Edinburgh.)

And a whole lot more still to be announced in the coming months.

When is the #WEM21 Conference taking place?

#WEM21 will run for 3 days from 13th – 15th November 2021 and as it’s our 10th anniversary, we’ll be making it extra extreme with speakers and insights you do not want to miss!

Delegate registration opens at 8:30am each day, and the conference closes at 6.30pm on Monday 15th.

Plus, for the first time ever, you can either attend in person at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh or online via our brand new, top of the range software that’s even more advanced than VirtualWEM20 was.

What is the key theme for #WEM21?

Over the 3 days, there are a range of topics based around our overarching theme of ‘A New World Awaits’; a theme we are confident will resonate with anyone practising medicine in extreme conditions.

We are going to both reflect over the challenges we faced, some of the learning that’s come from this, how we’ve grown as a global health community but also plan forwards and think about some of the incredible opportunities that lie ahead. Opportunities for us as health workers with incredibly valuable skills to make our most valuable contribution yet.

What are the differences between attending in person or online?

Whether we see you in Edinburgh or on a screen, we guarantee you an experience like no other.
To help you decide, dive deeper into the plans for info on in-person tickets vs online tickets.

Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference and circumstance. However, you choose to attend, we can’t wait to share what we have in store for you as we celebrate our 10th anniversary – it promises to be EXTREME!

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Attending in person?

Here’s everything you need to know…

• The #WEM21 Edinburgh Experience
• Fully immerse yourself in #WEM21 experience, our 10th year!
• Attend your chosen speaker sessions; ask your questions and join in with real-time debates
• Unique opportunity to meet and chat to speakers throughout the 3 days
• Face-to-face networking; socialise with like-minded professionals and future colleagues
• Experience the hands-on workshops, talks and organised social events – the Cèilidh is one event not to be missed!
• Full access to the online platform during and after the conference – all main talks will be recorded and available for 12 months.
• Explore the historic city of Edinburgh in your free time
• Limited tickets available – when they’re gone, they really are gone.

What are the costs for attending?

In-person at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh:

• Full tickets – £699 for 3 days
• Intermediate tickets – £515 for 3 days
• Student tickets – £429 for 3 days
• (Online Conference – 3 days £199)

N.B. Admission to the online platform is included in the Edinburgh ticket price. All prices are inclusive of VAT.

PLUS, as a little extra 10th anniversary ‘early bird’ special…

• The first 100 people to buy an Edinburgh ticket can choose either a challenge coin or a WEM patch which they can collect at the conference
• The first 200 people to buy an online ticket will receive a WEM patch, which will be posted directly to them

Can I purchase a single day ticket?

In short, the answer is no.

Historically most tickets purchased are for 3 days, and where a few single day tickets were sold, it left some of our delegates having to purchase single day tickets without the discount.

We’re also streamlining our schedule for 2021, meaning each day is no longer ‘themed’ as it was for previous conferences. Instead, we’re offering a blend of Expedition and Wilderness Medicine, Humanitarian, Disaster and Pre-Hospital Medicine, Space Medicine across all three days – all guided by our theme ‘A New World Awaits’. You also get full access to all conference content for 12 months afterwards.

What is the cancellation/refund policy on tickets?

Edinburgh tickets

Conference cancellations made before 2nd August 2021 will incur a £150 administration fee. Cancellations made after 2nd August 2021 will not be refunded.

If within the refund window, we recommend letting us know of any changes that will affect your attendance in Edinburgh as soon as possible, so we have time to find someone to buy your ticket.

Online tickets

Unfortunately, we aren’t able to offer refunds on our online #WEM21 tickets. However, your ticket secures you much more than access to the three-day event. You’ll have access to the entire library of talks for 12 months after the conference concludes, so don’t worry if a busy schedule means you aren’t able to make the entire conference.

Changing the name on your ticket

Alternatively, if know someone who can take your place and you’d like to change the name on the ticket, please email [email protected] In this instance, you would need to organise repayment with the new ticket holder (unless you’re kindly gifting it to them, of course!)

Where can I find the #WEM21 schedule?

You can find the schedule for each of the 3 days under the Programme section. Each day is packed with fascinating and inspiring content from globally renowned experts in Expedition and Wilderness Medicine, Humanitarian, Disaster and Pre-Hospital Medicine, Space Medicine and much more.

You will also be able to view the schedule on the online platform; our virtual conference environment (more details to follow).

Please note: the schedule is based on GMT+1 time zone.

Planning your trip…

How do I get to the conference venue Dynamic Earth?

Full details about our Dynamic Earth venue can be found here.

By Foot: Located at the bottom of Holyrood Road, neighbouring the Scottish Parliament and the Palace of Holyrood House, Dynamic Earth is roughly a 15-minutes’ walk from the city centre (Princes Street).

Dynamic Earth is additionally close to the National Cycle Network. To find the nearest cycling and walking routes click here: www.sustrans.co.uk

By Car: Find us using a GPS: Holyrood Rd, Edinburgh, EH8 8AS.

The Dynamic Earth 24 hour car park is located underneath the building, for which charges do apply.

By Bus: Within Edinburgh, take the local Lothian Buses No. 35 & 6 or hop aboard any Edinburgh City sightseeing bus tour. Further information can be found here > www.lothianbuses.com

From the Airport: Dynamic Earth is 8 miles from Edinburgh Airport. Follow the A8 into the city centre and follow signs for Dynamic Earth.

Can you recommend any hotels in Edinburgh?

Yes! We’ve partnered with Convention Edinburgh to offer a number of hotels at preferential rates. Choose from the hotels listed here, or contact the friendly team at Convention Edinburgh for additional help and advice on the best hotel for your specific needs.

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +44 (0)131 473 3874
Office hours: Monday – Friday 09:00am – 05:00pm (GMT)

What should I wear?

There is no specific dress code for this conference, we simply ask that you wear clothes!

However, for some workshops you will be outside or very hands-on, so bear this in mind when packing. We’d recommend warm and waterproof clothing to protect you against any extreme Scottish weather (you could get a little grubby!)

If you’re planning to come to our social events like the Saturday night Cèilidh, certainly bring your party clothes and dancing shoes!

Planning your weekend…

Are there any paper copies of the schedule available at the conference?

As part of our effort to minimise waste at the conference, we encourage delegates to use the schedule available on our website or via the #WEM21 app. The app has live updates and changes, so you’ll never miss a thing. There will be a few paper copies dotted around the venue for those without smartphones.

How do I book a workshop?

Workshops will be available to book from Friday 22nd October 2021, meaning you will have more time to research and plan your visit via the #WEM21 app and website.

Workshops are booked via the website – so make sure you’ve double (and triple!) checked that your login details work so you don’t miss out! If you have any issues accessing your account, send us an email to [email protected] and we’ll lend a hand.

Are workshops included in my conference ticket?

Most of the workshops are free and included in the cost of your conference ticket. There are a few workshops with costs associated:

Day 1:

• Bandaging and Strapping in Remote Locations
• USS Workshop
• Expedition Dentistry Workshop

Day 2:

• Wound Dressing Workshop
• USS Workshop
• Expedition Dentistry Workshop

Day 3:

• Wound Dressing Workshop
• USS Workshop
• Burns Workshop
• Caught in the Middle of a Multiple Casualty Terrorist Attack!

N.B. Subject to change.

These workshops will cost an additional £40 to attend, which covers the cost of materials and additional kit.

Do I need to book multiple workshops with the same name?

No, there are a few workshops that are repeated across the conference to allow as many people as possible to book onto the session. Each session features the same content, so you don’t need to attend more than once.

The workshops that are repeated are:

• Wound Dressing Workshop – Day 2 and 3
• USS Workshop – Day 1, 2 and 3
• Expedition Dentistry Workshop – Day 1 and 2

N.B. Subject to change.

What is the Ceilidh, when is it and how do I buy a ticket?

On Sunday 14th November at 8pm, our infamous WEM Ceilidh is back for another year of fun. Pull on your dancing shoes (and kilts) and join us at ‘The Caves’, just up the road from Dynamic Earth.

For those of you that have been before, you know exactly what to expect…. for those that haven’t, don’t miss out! It’s guaranteed to be an EXTREME night in an EXTREME venue! Live music, non-stop dancing and great fun with your fellow delegates and speakers.

This year, we have a very special guest entertaining us too; we’re honoured to also be hosting world-renowned violinist Robert McDuffie who will play for us that night.

Tickets are £25 – this includes entry and a welcome drink. They will be available to purchase on our website, or you can buy them at the conference from the WEM stand in the exhibitor village.

Post-conference…

Do I get a certificate for attending?

Yes! You’ll get your own personalised certificate. These are available for collection at the end of each day at the registration desk. Make sure to pick yours up before you leave – there will be a postage fee for any that need to be sent after the conference.

Online conference attendees will receive their certificate by email after the conference.

Is the World Extreme Medicine Conference accredited?

Yes, the conference is accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh for 6 CPD per day.

If you’re undecided and want to compare the difference with our online tickets, click here.

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Attending online?

Here’s everything you need to know…

Benefits of attending online:

• Dive in deep to the digital world of #WEM21 online conference.
• Seamless live-streamed speaker sessions – full coverage on the main stage and Salisbury room across the 3 days.
• Virtual networking via our brand-new online platform with artificial intelligence providing beneficial matchmaking – connecting you to the right people and businesses.
• Access to streamed workshops (where possible) though without that ‘hands-on’ experience.
• Full access to the online platform during and after the conference – all main talks will be recorded and available for 12 months.
• Flexible and accessible around work and home commitments
  What are the costs for attending?

Online Conference cost

3 days £199 including VAT

PLUS, as a little extra 10th anniversary special… The first 200 people to buy an online ticket will receive a WEM patch, which will be posted directly to them before the conference.

Why purchase an online ticket?

We’ve worked hard to make sure you still have a first-rate conference experience, meaning most of what you love about attending a WEM conference in person has been moved to the virtual space. We have an incredible online platform, a jam-packed schedule of talks, round-table discussions with leading experts, networking with WEM Faculty, speakers and fellow delegates, live Q&A, polls, plus a virtual exhibition hall where you can visit exhibitor booths and speak to them directly.

Is it possible to watch the conference at a later date?

We understand that our delegates are busy people from all over the globe, so if you are unable to attend the conference in person, or online that weekend, you can still buy an online ticket to have access to all conference material for 12 months afterwards.

We will also be offering the complete package of talks for purchase shortly after the conference concludes. This will be available over on the WEM Academy a week after the conference concludes.

How do I register for the WEM Online Platform?

Once you’ve purchased your online ticket, you’ll receive an email confirming your payment, the start and end times for the conference and details welcoming you to our online platform.
It’s a super easy process, but if you need any extra help, we’re around to help.

What will I need to participate?

A laptop or desktop with a webcam if you’d like to be on-screen during networking/roundtable discussions and a good internet connection. You will also need to set up your online profile (part of the sign-up process) before the conference begins.

What should I wear?

PJ’s! The great news is that you can wear whatever you like so if you’re watching from home, think cosy and comfortable – there’s no judgement here! (So long as you’re wearing something!)

Do I get a certificate for attending?

Yes! You’ll get your own personalised certificate. These will be available shortly after the conference.

Is the World Extreme Medicine Conference accredited?

Yes! The conference is accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh for 6 CPD per day – that’s 18 hours of CPD for attending all three days.

Where can I find the #WEM21 schedule?

You can find the schedule for each of the 3 days under the Programme section. Each day is packed with fascinating and inspiring content from globally renowned experts in Expedition and Wilderness Medicine, Humanitarian, Disaster and Pre-Hospital Medicine, Space Medicine and much more.

You will also be able to view the schedule on the online platform; our virtual conference environment (more details to follow).

Please note: the schedule is based on GMT+1 time zone.

If you’re undecided and want to compare the difference between coming to Edinburgh and experiencing the conference in person, click here.