Computer Vision News - June 2022

34 Robotic Assisted Surgery In its 11 th edition, CRAS has graduated from its origins as a workshop to become a fully- fledged single-track conference . Being focused on surgical robotics fills a space that more generalized single-track events, like ISER, the International Symposium on Experimental Robotics, cannot. Single-track conferences mean people spend a great deal of time together, with plenty of opportunities to talk and get to know each other. They also get to network with famous professors, like Paolo Fiorini and other keynote speakers in a more intimate setting than can be afforded by large multi-track events. CRAS has a typical attendance of around 70 people, so with over 100 registrations , this year was one of its most significant editions yet. “ I hope that was down to the good organization! ” Fanny laughs. “ The conference was postponed several times due to the pandemic, but we advertised widely online and through social media. For this kind of event, the way you communicate, prepare, and present it is all essential for its success. ” Might the stunning location and bounce back from the pandemic have also played a part? “ Yes, Naples is an amazing city, and people were keen to start traveling and meeting each other again, ” she agrees. “ Many young researchers took part with great interest. They were all participating and asking questions. If you weren’t there, you missed a very friendly environment. We had so much fun staying all together, sharing knowledge, and it’s an occasion where professional partnerships are forged because you can talk to everyone. ” CRAS 2022 - CONFERENCE ON NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR COMPUTER AND ROBOT ASSISTED SURGERY Fanny Ficuciello is an Assistant Professor at the University of Naples Federico II on the tenure track, shortly set to become an Associate Professor. She was also one of the co-organizers of CRAS 2022, the annual conference on new technologies for computer and robot-assisted surgery, which took place in April. Fanny is here to give us the lowdown on this year’s main event.