Update! Cancellation of WCE2026 Symposium and integration in Mechanical Insights Symposium 2027
We regret to inform you that the WCE2026 Symposium, originally scheduled to take place in Halle (Germany) on 22–23 October 2026, has been cancelled in its planned form.
Given the overlapping scope, timing and locations of the two symposiums, we have decided to combine our resources and focus on the upcoming Mechanical Insights Symposium 2027, which will take place from 30 June to 2 July 2027 at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), The Netherlands.
The Mechanical Insights Symposium 2027 will bring together researchers and professionals working on the mechanics of cultural heritage materials. The scope will include topics such as experimental mechanics, modelling and predictive tools, monitoring and diagnostics, and applications to a wide range of heritage materials.
Save the date!
More information on the scientific programme, abstract submission, registration and accommodation will follow in the coming months.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the cancellation of WCE2026 and hope that you will consider joining us in Eindhoven.
Previous announcement
The following information refers to the originally planned WCE2026 Symposium:
Save the Date!
We are pleased to invite you to the symposium "Analysis and Characterisation of Wooden Cultural Heritage by Scientific Engineering Methods", taking place on 22 and 23 October 2026 at the Händel-Haus Halle (Saale), Germany, the birthplace of Georg Friedrich Händel.
This event is jointly organised by the Institute for Structural Analysis of TUD Dresden University of Technology and the Stiftung Händel-Haus, continuing a successful series of symposia held in 2011 and 2016. The symposium aims to foster scientific exchange between researchers and professionals in the fields of cultural heritage analysis, structural characterisation, and conservation of wooden artworks, such as musical instruments, panel paintings, furniture or sculptures.
Symposium Series
WCE Conference Series: Symposium in 2011 and WCE2016, and the coming WCE2026.
The programme features 5 diverse sessions with lectures by renowned international experts, offering insights into engineering challenges and case studies related to wooden cultural heritage.
Symposium Topics
- stressed objects: balancing safe storage conditions and energy efficiency
- numerical analysis and simulation of wooden artwork
- material analysis and modelling of wood, adhesives, and coatings
- in-situ monitoring
Target Audience
The symposium is addressed to professionals and students from
- engineering
- science
- conservation
- restoration
Dates
October 22 to 23, 2026
Symposium Venue
Stiftung Händel-Haus
Große Nikolaistraße 5 · 06108 Halle (Saale) · Germany
Current Information
A summary of important information including programme and lecturers are available on the organising institutions websites:
https://tu-dresden.de/bu/bauingenieurwesen/sdt/tagungen/2026
https://www.haendelhaus.de
Draft Programme
THURSDAY, October 22, 2026
9 am Registration
10 am Opening
10.30 am Session I
B R E A K
2 pm Session II
B R E A K
4 pm Session III
7 pm Concert
8 pm Conference Dinner
FRIDAY, October 23, 2026
9 am Session IV
B R E A K
11 am Session V
12.30 pm Closing
We will inform you soon about the final programme and the confirmed lecturers.
We look forward to welcoming you to Händel-Haus Halle in October 2026!
Organisation
Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Michael Kaliske (TUD, Dresden, Germany),
Dr.-Ing. Daniel Konopka (TUD, Dresden, Germany),
M.A. Florian Amort (Stiftung Händel-Haus, Halle (Saale), Germany),
M.A. Franziska Bühl (Stiftung Händel-Haus, Halle (Saale), Germany),
Dipl.-Rest. Stefan Ehricht (Stiftung Händel-Haus, Halle (Saale), Germany)
Project
This symposium is part of the common DFG project “Modelling and Characterization of the Structural Behaviour of Wooden Cultural Heritage under Hygro-mechanical Loading” of the Institute for Structural Analysis (TUD, Dresden, Germany) under Prof. Michael Kaliske together with the Stiftung Händel-Haus (Halle (Saale).