Last-minute pre-conference information

Welcome drink and dinner on Sunday evening

The program will begin with a welcome drink at 7:00 pm, followed by a cold buffet-style dinner at 7:30 pm in the dining room at Hotel Monte Verità. Looking forward to see you all there.

Presentations

Presentations (aside from Keynotes) are scheduled in 20 minute time slots in order to provide ample time for discussion. Presenters are encouraged not to exceed 15 minutes, as the program is tight, and we cannot overrun the allocated time. Please bring your presentation on a memory stick to the presentation platform no later than 20 minutes before your session. The projector screen format is 4:3.

Posters

Posters should be printed in a maximum A0 format (118 x 84 cm), preferably in landscape orientation. Poster boards will be sized 180 cm x 120 cm, and pins will be provided for fixing. Posters will be displayed in a common area for the duration of the conference, and a PICO session followed by poster tour is arranged for Tuesday 10:00 – 10:40. The PICO session will be held in the conference auditorium at the end of the morning session. Presenters will have 2 min each to outline highlights of their contribution in a PowerPoint presentation, after which we will move to the poster area for morning coffee break.

Excursions

For all 1-day excursions on Wednesday, June 7th, please bring along sturdy shoes, outerwear (rain protection, warm clothing (there is still several meters of snow on the Gotthard pass), breathable clothing (it’s expected for temperatures to get up to 32°C in Ticino today)), sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, and your camera and/or binoculars if you have.

• For the Bedretto tunnel visit you will be equipped with safety vests and lamps, though we encourage you to bring your own high-power lights if you have one. The temperature in the Bedretto tunnel is around 20°C, with ~80% humidity, while tunnels for Sasso San Gotthardo tunnels are a constant 8°C. As a collapsed region at the far end of the Bedretto tunnel can be muddy, ankle-high boots are recommended for participants wishing to walk to the collapse face.
• While the Schöllenen Gorge is at 1200 m elevation, the Gotthard pass is at over 2000 m, and is still covered in several meters of snow. As a result, temperatures can be highly variable. We plan a relatively easy 1 km hike for the Schöllenen Gorge visit, though there are a number of stairs, and a reasonable level of physical fitness is expected. An alternative transfer by bus will be available for anyone who does not wish to make the hike. The Sasso San Gotthardo tunnels on the top of the pass are at a constant 8°C, and a warm outer layer is recommended. The tunnels are reasonably well lit, but we recommend attendees bring their own torches / head lamps for some sections.
• The Preonzo excursion is a steep and long Alpine hike along a very narrow and locally hazardous trail. Physical fitness for 600 m elevation and 3 hrs hiking (up and down) is required. We recommend hiking poles for this steep, and sometimes slippery trail.

Payment for the Numerical Modelling Workshop (70 CHF) and optional visit to Brissago Island (25 CHF)

These can be made to a PRF 2017 staff member at registration on Sunday, or in the dining room at lunchtime on any day. We won’t carry much change, so exact amounts are preferred.

Getting there by car

Directions to Hotel Monte Verità, and information regarding parking can be found on the CSF website: http://www.csf.ethz.ch/how-to-find-us/by-car.html

Free shuttle bus from Locarno train station to Hotel Monte Verità

A free bus will depart at from Locarno train station on Sunday 4th July. The bus is white (with no signs on it), and on the windows there will be a sign with the CSF logo and saying FONDAZIONE MONTE VERITÀ. Look for the Hotel Monte Verita sign for the pickup location (link). Click here for a map to the bus.

Departure times are: 14.50, 15.30, 16.10, 16.50, 17.30, 18.10

Free bus from Zurich to Ascona

We arrange a free bus service for attendees wishing to travel from Zurich to Ascona on Sunday afternoon. The trip will pass through a spectacular region of the Alps, and will include expert commentary from Prof. Simon Loew. The bus departs from Zurich Central Station (Sihlquai Car Park) at 4 pm, and will take approximately 2 h 45 min. Please visit our website for a map and further details https://www.prf2017.ethz.ch/free-bus-service/. In an emergency, please contact Matthew Perras on +41 78 897 0861.

Luggage storage at Zurich Main Station

For those arriving in Zurich a little earlier, luggage storage is available at the main train station, just a 5 – 10 min walk from where our bus will depart. Lockers are on the ‘Zwitchengeschoss’ (intermediate level) of the station, and cost between 6- and 9- CHF. See number 104 on the station plan for the location of storage lockershttps://www.sbb.ch/content/dam/infrastruktur/trafimage/bahnhofplaene/plan-zuerich-hb-plakat.pdf.

Power plugs in Switzerland

These are not your normal European two-pin. Though ones with narrow pins will fit, it’s best to look for an adapter like the one shown here: http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/j/

Locarno and surrounds

Don’t forget to check the Ascona-Locarno tourism website for information on non-business things to do and the latest weather forecast. http://www.ascona-locarno.com/en/