Dear Colleague,

The European Association of Earthquake Engineering (EAEE) and the European Seismological Commission (ESC) have long traditions of periodic conferences: the European Conference on Earthquake Engineering (ECEE) takes place every four years, and the General Assembly of the ESC every second year, respectively. In 2006, the EAEE and the ESC will join the 13th ECEE and the 30th ESC General Assembly to hold for the first time in common the First European Conference on Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (1st ECEES). The future will show whether common conferences become a new tradition!

It is with great pleasure that we invite you to join us at the 1st ECEES in Geneva on September 3-8, 2006. Do not miss this excellent opportunity for exchanges between seismologists and earthquake engineers. We will provide a stimulating forum for your discussions and a convivial atmosphere in which to make acquaintances and renew old friendships. A comprehensive grant programme, financed by the Swiss Government, will support the participation of students and young researchers from economically weak countries.

We work hard to deliver a conference of the highest technical standards in an outstanding venue, the Centre International de Conférences de Genève (CICG), with an imaginative and varied programme. The conference will include all the elements you are used to find in the ECEE and ESC Assembly, as well as a number of new events fostering the interaction between earthquake engineers and seismologists, including common sessions, common keynote speakers and sessions discussing issues with opposite viewpoints of experts. In addition, a training course in engineering seismology will be hosted by the Swiss Seismological Service at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich in the week following the 1st ECEES.

A varied programme for participants and accompanying persons will allow you to take full advantage of the conference location in Geneva, one of the important cultural cities of Europe, located at the foot of the majestic Alps. The conference dinner will take place on 100-year old steam ships cruising on the world famous lake of Geneva.

We are confident that you will find participation in this first common conference to be both professionally rewarding and personally enjoyable. We warmly invite you to register for the 1st ECEES and look forward to meeting you in Geneva in September 2006.

Martin Koller and Domenico Giardini
Co-Chairmen of the 1 st ECEES

Robin Spence
President of the EAEE

Claudio Eva
President of the ESC