Workshop FM-ECCO-2022
Functional Materials for Energy, Computing, and Communication
jointly with MSCA-RISE-ENGIMA action
May 16-18, 2022, Marrakech
... FM-ECCO-2022 is a friendly, economic, family-like workshop where we suppose not only to discuss the emergent aspects of material physics but also the opportunities for the further strategy of collaboration. We selected the best springtime for the meeting that permit us to fully take advantage of the friendly climate of Morocco. The location is an easily accessible touristic place connected by multiple low-cost flights with the majority of European airports, with excellent infrastructure and accommodation services. This is an excellent point of access, ensured by the multiple tourist agencies, to the virgin Atlas mounts, authentic desert, or the North-Africa Atlantic cost for those, who decide to extend their stay in Morocco...
PROGRAM
REGISTRATION
Please submit the pre-registration form to confirm your participation in the workshop as far as you establish the dates of your travel. The registration fee of 400 Euro will be collected during the on-site registration. It comprises workshop material, lunches, a very good conference dinner, coffee breaks, and beverages. The local students, accepted by organizers waived the registration fee but have no access to the workshop outdoor services.
Tourism and Travel
Welcome to Marrakech, the most known cultural, historic, and economic center of Morocco with a well-organized tourist infrastructure! IMMEA will take place just after the end of the summer tourist season. The beautiful weather and friendly service with moderate prices are expected.
Arrival As Morocco is a tourist country, there are a lot of competing economic companies that serve the International airport of Marrakech, Menara (RAK). You may arrive also at other International airports in the country: Mohammed-V-(Casablanca) (CMN), which has a convenient train connection with Marrakech, or Al Massira (Agadir) (AGA), situated in the famous touristic resort at Atlantic beach.
Regular Companies that have the most frequent flights to Morocco from Europe are Royal Air Maroc (more economic) and Air France. Practically all North African companies are also connected with Morocco. Depending on the day of the flight, they can propose the very attractive tariffs, if book in advance.
Low-Cost companies (EasyJet, Jet4you, Ryanair, TUIfly... ) that serve the airport of Marrakech are numerous, economic, and quite reasonable, but sometimes don’t appear in the Internet.
We recommend using the websites www.skyscanner.net or www.momondo.com or your travel agency to localize them.
Since the conference will take place at the end of the hot tourist season, we strongly advise you to reserve your tickets as soon as possible to achieve the best result.
From/to the airport. The airport of Marrakech is about 15-20 min from the city by taxi. Change the money at the terminal and take the “petit taxi" (small yellow car) at the parking square. If there is no meter, AGREE ON THE PRICE BEFORE sitting in the car and lock your luggage. The price is negotiable but it should not exceed Dh 100 (Dh 150 at night) per car (not per passenger) to get the downtown. Take another cab with no discussion in case of disagreement. The price on the way back can be 15-20% lower.
Change The rates in airports, banks, large hotels, etc, are almost the same: 1 EURO = 11 Dh. ATM can charge 5% for your card
Taxi It is very common to use the small yellow “petit taxi” to move in Marrakech. They are quite cheap, Dh 10-20 inside the downtown and 50% higher at night. In most cases, you can simply flag the taxi in the street, but take time in important cases when you should go to the conference session or to the Airport, especially in the early morning. As far as we know there is no central reservation for the taxi but ask also your hotel reception.
In most cases, there is no problem to use the taxi but several “rules” should be respected to avoid surprises.
The meter in a taxi is obligatory but sometimes it is absent. In this case, AGREE ON THE PRICE BEFORE sitting in the car and locking your luggage. Be sure that you understand the driver correctly. It is best to write the price on paper and show it to the driver. Don’t negotiate too much. Just take another taxi. Keep the coins; the driver never has the change. You don't need to pay for extras (luggage, etc). The price is negotiated per car (not per passenger), but it is difficult to avoid the “extra” passengers along the route. Prefer the older driver in the new car. Don’t tell to the driver that you are the first time in Morocco. In case of a strong disagreement, remember that this is just the part of the performance, putting the money on the seat and/or telling that you will call the police. But if the driver is really sympathetic, give him Dh 2-3 more...
Souvenirs Surely you will buy the souvenirs... The heart of the medieval town, the ancient market (souk) at place Djemaa El-Fna is the most appropriate place for this. You can negotiate and decrease the price by on 30%, 50%, 70% ... but finally you will find the same thing in the supermarket even cheaper. This is not surprising. The market Djemaa El-Fna is like a luxury boutique, you pay for the pleasure of negotiation. The best practice would be to visit the souvenir shop at regular prices beforehand. Here are several addresses: bd. 27 and bd. 221 Av. Mohammed V, (not far from IMMEA), bd. 169 -171 rue Mohammed lbakkal (behind Av. Mohammed VI) etc. However, we don't advise entering into the dialog if you are not really motivated to buy something. Oriental culture has a thousand-year culture of negotiation and convictions...
ACCOMMODATION
There are many all-range hotels in the vicinity of the conference place, with very competitive prices because of the end of the season. Participants can easily make their own reservations for accommodation using Booking.com and TripAdvisor.com.
Recommended hotels:
Hotel Amine (from € 42/night ); Avenue Abdelkrim Al Khattabi,
Hotel Marrakech le Semiramis (from €47/night) Rte de Casablanca
Grand Mogador Menara (luxury hotel, from €60/night); Av. Mohammed VI
Economic: El Hamra–Hotel -- in front of the Faculty of Science and Technology of Cadi Ayyad University, 24 Av. Abdelkarim El Khetabi (approx. €20/night for 1 person, €25/night for 2 persons, €30/night for 3 persons)
VENUE
The conference venue, Faculty of Science and Technology of Cadi Ayyad University of Marrakech is located in the modern city center Gueliz, very close to historical and tourist Medina of Marrakech, market-place (souk) Jemaa el-Fnaa.
address: Faculté des Sciences et Techniques
B.P 549, Av.Abdelkarim Elkhattabi,
Guéliz Marrakech
Attention, there are other campuses of Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech