1. Physical Geography.
Brazil is a country which is neither a replication of European or North American cultural models nor a dull, uninteresting milieu in and of itself. Quite the contrary, it is a vibrant nation, combining ethnic groups from the four corners of the world, set into one of the most varied and exciting environments of physical geography. Rio de Janeiro, site of the Conference, is surely, by any measure, the most photogenic city of the world, with tropical forests, steep mountain configurations and exquisite beaches all running into each other within the city limits
2. The Hotel.
The five-star hotel in which the Conference will be held, and where we hope most delegates will stay, is at the top of Copacabana Beach, requiring no more than fifty steps from the hotel entrance to reach the sand. The view, day and night, includes not only the “Sugar-Loaf” Mountain, but also the “Corcovado”—the figure of Christ overlooking all parts of the city—and the kilometers of the façades of the hotels and fine apartment houses facing the beach. To the back of the hotel, the next two beaches: Ipanema and Leblon, celebrated for attracting eye-catching denizens of the city.
3. Security
If you are worried about the question of security during the Conference, rest assured that we are doing everything we can to make your stay as uneventful as possible in this regard—there will be special security agents within and without the hotel, and in the general vicinity, thanks to the cooperation of the State Government of Rio de Janeiro. But, of course, you will have to do your part, too, leaving any valuables at home, and using good sense when it comes to any late-night partying.
4. Sightseeing
There is so much for visitors to see in Rio de Janeiro that it is hard to know where to begin with suggestions. Of course, “Sugar-Loaf” and the “Corcovado” are musts, either by day or by night. The Botanical Garden, founded at the beginning of the 19th century, and harboring examples of vegetation from all over Brazil, is also worth a visit, as is the Maracana Soccer Stadium, which holds over 200,000 spectators. Colonial buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries can be found throughout the city, and among these, the magnificent old churches are very popular. On certain nights of the week it is possible to visit the “rehearsal” of a “samba school,” one of the many clubs preparing for months in advance to compete for honors in the upcoming Carnival—and visitors can join in the dancing and general merriment of such “rehearsals.” Really adventurous souls might wish to ride one of the suburban trains bringing workers into the heart of the city, since certain of the cars are systematically filled with evangelical groups singing hymns.
5. Eating Well
Highly popular are the “rotation” steakhouses, which, for a fixed, reasonable price, offer the diner a magnificent salad bar, and unlimited servings of about twenty different kinds of meat (beef, pork, chicken and some kinds of fish), all grilled and brought out on spits—an unforgettable experience. There are also traditional steakhouses, as well as restaurants specialized in seafood and Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese and Arab cuisines. Brazilian beer is exceptionally good, as are many wines from the northeast and south of the country. And for those who prefer non-alcoholic beverages, there are many locations offering fresh-fruit drinks and ice-cream prepared with exotic fruits from the Amazon region, such as guaraná, cupuaçu, graviola, assaí and many, many more. My own favorite fruit is umbu, from the drylands region of Bahia. Waiters are serious professionals, and not college students. Since Brazilians do not favor food that has been frozen, most meals are especially delicious.
6. Partnerships
We are expecting some 1,000 participants in the event. Based on the more than 450 papers sent for peer-review selection by the International Programme Committee, we are assured of a truly global audience—delegates from all the continents of the world will be present, and this represents an exceptional opportunity for those seeking partnerships. If, in the institution where you work, you are responsible for increasing the number of students who take your institution´s courses, either so as to increase scale of operations or to have a diversified cross-section of students in your courses, you will find at ICDE22 other professionals seeking contact with delegates who have courses or content to share or negotiate, or for the establishment of broker-relations, dealer-relations, and the like. If you have a special request to be put into contact with a delegate from a country with which you´d like to have more information, please let the conference secretariat know and we will attempt to find you a partner during the conference.