Memories of the 2006 IMPC in Istanbul

As there is not a lot of social interaction at the moment, I thought it might be good to look back at September 2006, in the days when we talked to people face to face, and a very enjoyable International Mineral Processing Congress in Turkey, organised under the leadership of my good friend Prof. Guven Onal of the Istanbul Technical University.

Bolstered by a huge Turkish contingent, the XXIII IMPC in Istanbul attracted what was then a record number of delegates, over 900 participating, with papers from 46 countries.

Three very memorable social events were held at the magnificent Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi Palaces, the former being in the European sector of Istanbul, the latter across the Bosporus in Asia, and the farewell dinner was held at the end of the penultimate day of the conference, a magnificent affair rivalling the memorable ‘African Night’ at the previous Cape Town IMPC. In the splendid open air setting of Buyuk Klup, on the Asian side of the Bosporus, we were entertained, over an excellent 4-course meal, to live Turkish music, folk-dancing, and belly-dancing. There was a formal aspect to the evening as well, with final speeches from the organisers, which were kept short and pertinent and culminated in the lifetime achievement award to Prof. H. Schubert.

I am sure that you will recognise many of the people in the photos below, some sadly no longer with us.

Jon by the Blue Mosque in the Old City

In the Old City with Kathryn Hadler, Loise Morris and Jan Cilliers

Congress Chairman Guven Onal (2nd left) with IMPC Council members