INTRODUCTION

The 20th International Conference on Plastination was organized by Universidad de La Frontera, from Temuco, Chile, in online mode (www.icp2022chile.com), under the Presidency of Dr. Nicolás E. Ottone. This event stood out for being the first time it had been organized in South America. The event was held between July 18^th and 21^st, 2022, and featured the participation of prominent exhibitors, and representatives of the area, gathered to address issues associated with Fundamentals of Plastination, Education and Clinical Application of Plastination, and Research in Plastination, as well as issues of Classical Anatomical Techniques and Human Donation. In parallel, the 4^th International Congress on Anatomical Techniques was also organized.

At this Conference, two unique moments of great significance took place. In the first place, the opening of the Conference was attended by the renowned Prof. Gunther von Hagens, inventor of Plastination, who in 1982, 40 years ago, was in charge of opening the First International Conference on Plastination in Texas, USA. In addition, during the third day of the conference, a very emotional moment was experienced, with the delivery of special recognition, “Maximum Distinction”, to Prof. Gunther von Hagens, “in recognition of his outstanding career and an invaluable and notable contribution in the field of Anatomy and Morphological Sciences for the revolutionary creation of Plastination, a technique that broke the established standards and marked a breakthrough and a historical milestone in the teaching, the research, and the experience of Anatomy”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwgDPhNbsMI

This year, the Conference was attended by exhibitors from the United States, China, Germany, Turkey, New Zealand, Russia, Brazil, Chile, Spain, Peru, Costa Rica, and Mexico. In addition, 23 oral presentations were made by a significant number of universities from 12 countries.

The 20th International Conference on Plastination was attended by more than 110 attendees from 43 countries, on all continents, reflecting the internationalization of the technique. The outstanding participation of academics and students from South America was highlighted, as well as undergraduate students from the Universidad de La Frontera, and other universities of the Region, especially at the level of oral presentations, thus allowing to verify the great work developed by International Society for Plastination, and in this specific Conference, by the Universidad de La Frontera for the dissemination in South America of plastination, through Plastination Workshops, the Diploma in Anatomical Techniques, and our presence in Anatomy Congresses. The aim is to continue on this path, promoting from the International Society for Plastination the development and application of plastination in anatomical teaching and research in all the world's educational institutions.

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