All talks will presented live regardless if you are participating in-person or virtually. While most presenters will be in-person, those unable to travel will be presented live through the conference platform and streamed into the venue presentation room.

As you plan your participation as a presenter please find below details to assist you with your specific presentation type at the conference:

You can also find additional training videos here: https://help.junolive.com/exhibitors-speakers/training-videos-for-exhibitors-speakers-moderators

How to Join the Session as a Virtual Speaker

To join the session:

  1. log in to the virtual platform (https://iscb.junolive.co/) using the email you used when you registered
    • It is important that you use the same email as permissions on the virtual site are tied to your email
  2. Once logged in navigate to your talk
    • There are multiple paths to your talk, for example searching through the Scientific Programme or via your profile page
  3. Normally clicking on your talk will bring up the details about your talk.  30 minutes before the session where your talk is scheduled, that link will instead take you to the video conferencing system.  This is why the email permissions are important.

We ask that you join as early as you are able within the 30 minute window to provide ample time to troubleshoot any issues that may arise.  Please note, this is 30 minutes before the session containing your talk, not 30 minutes before your talk

NOTE: sharing the screen with the virtual audience means presenter mode cannot be used unless you have a second monitor and configure it beforehand.  For more information about screen sharing with a single monitor visit this page: https://help.junolive.com/exhibitors-speakers/screen-sharing-with-a-single-monitor

If you need assistance joining the room there is a help chat available that will attempt to troubleshoot and connect you to live assistance.  You can also contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In-person Talk Details

For those presenting in-person please note you must use the supplied computer due to the connection process with the JUNO virtual platform. You should pre-load your presentation on the in-room computer prior to the session in which you are scheduled to give your presentation.

Presentation Specifications:

  • All laptops will run Microsoft Windows 10 and include PowerPoint.  PDFs are NOT AN ACCEPTED format for a presentation
    • PowerPoint 365 includes a subtitle generation feature improving accessibility of presentations and recordings for those hard of hearing
    • PDFs will not be able to have the full screen shown on the podium computers
  • All laptops will have Microsoft Office 365, compatible with the version from 2016. There should be no compatibility issues for presentations created with PowerPoint 2019 or 2021
  • If video will be a part of your presentation, it is highly recommended for it to be inserted using the “Video on my PC” option within PowerPoint
    • Save/include the video file included in the same folder as your presentation
    • It is not recommended to use the “Online Video” option
    • Presentation times will not be extended for troubleshooting technical difficulties for videos that do not load
  • Custom/non-standard Windows fonts are not recommended or supported, if utilized ensure that the font(s) are fully embedded within your presentation file
  • Apple Keynote, PDFs, and Google Slides are not supported
  • Slide size should be set to “Widescreen (16:9)” within PowerPoint (this is the default)
  • Projector Information: 16:9 Aspect Ratio/1920x1080 resolution. Screen size will vary depending upon the room.
Live Talks and Pre-recorded Videos for the Content Library

All abstract presenters, invited speakers, and proceedings presenters who are presenting virtually are required to provide a pre-recorded talk in advance of the conference. The pre-recorded talk will be used should circumstances prevent the virtual presenter from presenting live. This pre-recoded talk will be made available at the end of the day on which it is scheduled along with the session recordings.

All poster presenters, including those presenting in-person, will upload a 5-7 minute video to the virtual conference platform site along with a PDF of their poster.  Those presenting a poster and a talk on the same topic must provide two sets of files, one for the talk one for the poster.  A talk video cannot be used for a poster presentation as the allowed time is shorter.

Pre-recorded talks for the platform library should be an .mp4 file. Videos should be recorded in 720p - 1080p and there is no limit on video file size.  Poster PDFs must not exceed 10Mb.  Presenters will upload their recordings directly through the conference platform site after logging in as a registrant.

PLEASE note once submitted your video cannot be updated, though it can be removed and replaced.

  • Save your presentation as .mp4 file
  • Ensure you use the filename(s) provided to you in the email sent upon submission of the Confirmation of Participation.  This email will be sent from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., be sure it is whitelisted so as not to miss any communications from ISCB
  • If you are presenting a poster in addition to a talk you must prepare a second video for the poster as the allowed time is shorter (5-7 minutes).  The video for your talk cannot be used for your poster presentation.  See the poster instructions below for more details
  • Recording may or may not include the presenter in the recording, this is at the presenter's discretion. Should the presenter elect to appear on camera in your recording, we suggest you wear the same outfit the day of your presentation.
  • Ensure you prepare your talk based on the length of time specified within the acceptance notification :

The following links can be of assistance for planning your presentation(s):

We suggest that if you are including a visual image of yourself in the recording you should be wearing the same outfit for the live Q&A.
Turn on live captions using the Google Chrome browser.  Download Chrome here if you haven’t already. Remember, you’ll always need to access the event website in Chrome for these captions to work. More details can be found at https://help.junolive.com/attendees/turn-on-live-captions

Poster Presentations

Presenters of a poster, whether in-person or virtually, will upload your poster and video via the conference platform with the following:

  • Presentation abstract
  • PDF of your poster, no larger than 10Mb
  • 5-7 minute poster presentation recording as .mp4 file (Maximum 7 minutes)
  • Videos should be recorded in 720p - 1080p and there is no limit on video file size

Poster presenters will be able to:

  • direct message with attendees
  • create ad hoc "video demo rooms" 
  • Q&A with the poster presenter via public comments

Some helpful tips on planning your recorded talk are available below.

Presenting your poster in a lighting style format using the PechaKucha or Ignite talks presentation style or a single slide or PDF is an option for presenters.

Here is an example of a presentation: https://youtu.be/rbLbb7eOao8

Poster size limits can vary between conferences.  Be sure to check the Posters page of the conference you're attending to confirm the size limits of your poster.  Only in-person presenters need to print a poster.

Recorded Presentation Guidelines


Download Guidlines

Live Presentation Guidelines


Download Guidelines

How to Record a Powerpoint Presentation


How to record a power point presentation

Hybrid Conference Optimal Conditions

For the best experience please consider the following in preparation of the conference:

  • Preferred browser is Chrome
  • Hardwire your computer vs wifi
  • Turnoff other browsers, background programs, and eliminate other internet devices being used if possible
Uploading your Talk

For virtual presenters, a pre-recorded version of your talk is required as a back-up precaution, should anything prevent you from being able to present live. We would rather play your recorded talk then have 'dead time' within the programme. Additionally, the pre-recorded talk will be available shortly after the live presentation alogn with the session recordings to provide faster and more seamless access to the conference content for virtual participants. To ensure all required presentation materials are available be sure to follow these steps to upload your files

  1. Once the window for you to upload your poster opens you will be sent a "You have been added as an Admin" email from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    1. Additionally, you'll receive a notification on in your profile on the conference site that will direct you to the same location as the email
  2. Log in to the conference virtual platform using the same email you used when you registered
  3. Navigate to your presentation. You can do so with the link in the "You have been added as an Admin" email, or you can navigate to your talk using the "Scientific Programme" on the virtual platform
  4. Once in the page for your talk you will need to scroll down to click on your name, then "visit page" to go to your speaker profile
  5. Click the "edit" button on your speaker profile
  6. Use this page to add a photo and speaker bio (OPTIONAL) and be sure to click the "Save Changes" button after any updates
  7. To upload your mp4, navigate to the "Meta Data" tab and click the "Add Meta Data" button
  8. Select "Upload MP4" from the type menu
  9. Click "Choose a file" then navigate to the video on your computer
    1. Be sure to use the filename provided upon submission of the Confirmation of Participation as using the incorrect filename may result in the file not being properly displayed
  10. Confirm you have the right video and a pop-up will appear showing you progress of the upload
  11. Once completed the "Cancel" button will change to "OK"
  12. Click "OK" and then "save changes"

The following video tutorial from ISMB 2022 will walk you through the same steps

Uploading your Poster

All poster presenters, in-person or virtual, are required to upload an mp4 and pdf of their poster.  A pdf of your poster as well as an accompanying flash talk ensures all posters are viewable to both in-person and virtual attendees thus providing more exposure of your work. Failure to upload a digital version of your poster will revoke your in-person poster acceptance.  To ensure all required presentation materials are available be sure to follow these steps to upload your files

  1. Once the window for you to upload your poster opens you will be sent a 'You have been added as an Admin' email from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    • Additionally, you'll receive a notification on in your profile on the conference site that will direct you to the same location as the email
  2. Log in to the conference virtual platform using the same email you used when you registered
  3. Navigate to your presentation. You can do so with the link in the "You have been added as an Admin" email, or you can navigate to your talk using the "Virtual Poster Theatre" on the virtual platform
  4. Information tab = OPTIONAL Intro, Description, and Image update
  5. Rotators - this is where you'll upload the mp4 of your presentation. The steps to do so are:
    • Click "Add rotator"
    • Give the rotator a title
    • Type - use the drop down to find "Video Upload mp4"
    • Upload file - this will open to search your computer for the file
      • Be sure to use the filename provided upon submission of the Confirmation of Participation as using the incorrect filename may result in the file not being properly displayed
    • Once uploading, don't navigate to another page - you may use a separate tab while the video is uploading, though
    • Once completed, the "CANCEL" button will update to "OK"
    • Click "OK" and then "save changes"
  6. Resources - this is where you'll upload your pdf. This process is the same as the mp4
    • Add a title (required)
    • Description is optional and not shown on the site
    • Upload your file using "Upload File"
      • Again, this will allow you to search your local computer for the file you'd like to upload
      • Be sure to use the filename provided upon submission of the Confirmation of Participation as using the incorrect filename may result in the file not being properly displayed
      • File must be less than 10 MB - this limit only applies to the pdf
    • The same downloading window will appear and you'll click "Complete" when the file has been uploaded
  7. Meta Data - this is where you may add in any personal links/ways to contact you (Optional)
  8. Greeting - This will populate next to the rotator on the page (Optional)

The following video tutorial from ISMB/ECCB 2023 will walk you through the same steps

The power of mobile communications has increased dramatically in recent years such that these devices (smartphone or tablet computer) can be used productively to do science [1]. The software applications installed on them do not necessarily have to be specialized to be useful for science, e.g., Evernote can be used as an electronic lab notebook [2]. Twitter is a popular microblogging platform famously limited to messages of up to 140 characters [3] and represents a simple way to express what's on your mind to a global audience of followers. Twitter has useful real-world scientific applications, such as in disease surveillance enabling the tracking of disease pandemics [4]–[6], as well as the capacity to be used for the communication of science itself [7]. Like other professionals, scientists are increasingly tweeting about their own research and the work of colleagues and sharing links to scholarly publications, laboratory results, and related scientific content such as molecular structures [8]. Twitter can additionally serve as a catalyst in the development of scientific tools, with at least one mobile app for science coming directly out of a tweet at a scientific conference [9].

If he or she is fortunate, a scientist may attend one or more scientific conferences in a year. In some fields, the number of conferences to attend is overwhelming. The time and cost expenditures required to physically participate in conferences necessitate an alternative route to access the information presented and capture it for future reference. Ideally, it would be preferable to monitor conferences remotely and at minimal or no cost. Increasingly, some scientists are using Twitter as a vehicle to summarize presentations and posters at conferences in real time, which is defined as “live tweeting.” The advantage of remote participation is that the information tweeted is open and free to anyone around the globe. From our own experiences of attending and live tweeting at several conferences over the past three years, the success of live tweeting appears dependent on the engagement of conference organizers with Twitter and its active encouragement before, during, and after the meeting. Surprisingly few conferences are actively encouraging scientists to tweet. This reticence is probably more likely due to ignorance of the potential rather than the possibility of loss of attendee revenue. We suggest that conference live tweeting is an opportunity to reach beyond those in the room while enabling feedback from those outside. Obviously, it is also in the best interests of conference organizers to provide free Wi-Fi so that international attendees do not have to use their expensive data plans and because the phone signal in many conference venues is generally weak. Crucially, the success of live tweeting depends on the ability of scientists to relay the highlights of a talk or to string together multiple tweets such that they can also be read as a contiguous narrative using tools such as Storify [10]. Some simple steps to enable the wider use of live tweeting at conferences may not be widely known to scientists.

For example, conferences like “Science Online” (#scioX, in which the # is a hashtag, the keyword-tagging system of Twitter that enables retrieval of all tweets about this conference) (Box 1) are at one extreme as an “unconference” [11], with multiple vibrant discussions happening during the sessions via Twitter. These discussions extend beyond the actual physical attendees, creating a parallel virtual meeting. Live tweeting is therefore a powerful tool for expanding scientific discourse to those not fortunate enough to attend a conference in person. Similarly, if a meeting has parallel sessions, tweeting then enables conference attendees or virtual conference attendees to listen in on multiple talks simultaneously. These conferences do not have to be limited to academic gatherings and may extend to those that are organized by commercial entities, which are generally more expensive to attend and very specialized. Often useful discussions happen between talks in casual environments, and tweeting those observations or conversations is probably acceptable with the agreement of both parties, unless these are private, off-the-record discussions.

Box 1. Common Twitter Abbreviations

# = hashtag
@ = nametag, a way to reply to someone
.@ = broadcast a tweet that begins with a nametag
RT = retweet, share something already tweeted
HT = hat tip, acknowledge or thank a source
DM = direct message
CX = correction
Tweetup = physical meeting of tweeters

Additional abbreviations can be found elsewhere:
http://socialmediatoday.com/emoderation/512987/top-twitter-abbreviations-you-need-know

http://www.ogawadesign.com/services/twitter-for-your-biz/twitter-abbreviations-and-twitter-acronymns.html

http://www.webopedia.com/quick_ref/Twitter_Dictionary_Guide.asp

Acronyms for common conferences can be found here: http://www.abbreviations.com/acronyms/CONF

At the other extreme, which unfortunately is representative of most scientific conferences we have attended, there are few if any active live tweeters. This could be for several reasons: demographics of attendees, esoteric subject matter, and whether the organizer wants information to extend outside the conference halls (Gordon Conferences is one organization that may discourage tweeting on the assumption that this prevents scientists from sharing unpublished data). Sometimes the organizers of these conferences either do not actively encourage tweeting or they choose a cumbersome hashtag (Box 1) that consumes precious characters without signaling what the conference is even about (e.g., the Lysosomal Disease Network's #world_symposium, the annual conference on lysosomal storage diseases [12], which we shortened to #LDN14). Others have provided general recommendations for tweeting at academic conferences, such as rules of thumb [13], [14], dos and don'ts [15], and the types of tweets that can be useful [16]. However, we are not aware of concise efforts to describe live tweeting at science conferences other than a vaguely informative “how to tweet at conferences” [17]. An exhaustive perspective on live coverage at scientific conferences using web technologies has been described at length and focuses on bloggers in general [18], but this does not go into detail on how to use Twitter at these conferences specifically. This is important because the types of information tweeted could also be useful to followers in different spheres, such as patients, disease advocates, financial analysts, and pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

Scientists in some cases tend to be quite introverted (varying by field) so any efforts to break the ice or engage new participants at conferences are also welcome. Twitter can play an active role here to bridge or break down the gap between researcher cliques and can serve as a means to introduce you and your ideas to others in the field, without having to personally “know” them. We have found from our own experiences that Twitter interactions that initially formed online during the meeting or previous meetings can have a lasting presence in real life, forging collaborations and further expanding on discussions initiated via Twitter.

In light of those observations, it's worth proposing ten simple guidelines to encourage conference organizers, conference attendees, and anyone interested who uses Twitter to enhance the spread of scientific information beyond the physical walls of the auditoria in which meetings are held. While it is possible to add many other recommendations (such as encouraging the use of Storify to combine tweets from a meeting), we believe this is a good starting point for scientists new to Twitter and perhaps previously unwilling or unable to live tweet. While we would not claim to be the absolute authorities on Twitter use at conferences, our cumulative experiences of live tweeting have enabled us to provide a short list of recommendations. These ten simple rules are certainly ripe for future refinement or replacement as other microblogging tools are developed. Of course, it's also important to remember to enjoy the conference (if you are attending in person) and please try to add some local color to the proceedings in your tweets by describing the conference locale (using pictures if permitted). Don't be afraid to add personality while providing a voice for those not physically attending.

In the style of Twitter, we have kept these “rules or recommendations” to a maximum of 140 characters (so that they can in turn be tweeted).

Rule 1: Short Conference Hashtag

As soon as the meeting is announced, conference organizers should claim a short (6–8 characters) descriptive # that includes the year.

Rule 2: Promote the Hashtag

Highlight the hashtag in all conference materials online, in print, on name badges, and on Twitter if possible.

Rule 3: Encourage Tweeting

Encourage live tweeting at the conference. Session chairs can facilitate this and relay questions from the twitterosphere.

Rule 4: Conference Twitter Etiquette

Keep questions short and on the science, avoid grandstanding, encourage responsible tweeting, and avoid harassment or snarkiness.

Rule 5: Conference Tweet Layout

List speaker name, affiliation and conference hashtag in the first tweet; surname or initials and meeting hashtag are sufficient thereafter.

Rule 6: Keep Conference Discussion Flowing

Summarize presentations concisely, use hashtags for keywords, and use “@ reply” to engage individuals who can add to the discussion.

Rule 7: Differentiate Your Opinions from the Speaker's

Separate your own comments/viewpoints on the speaker or science being described in a presentation from the speaker's own words.

Rule 8: Bring Questions up from Outside

Check for and raise questions from those outside the conference, returning the speaker responses to positively enforce participation.

Rule 9: Meet Other Live Tweeters Face to Face

Organize tweetups so that conference attendees can meet in person and consolidate relationships and collaborations.

Rule 10: Emphasize Impact of Live Tweeting

Ensure that positive effects of tweeting at conferences, such as discoveries, publications, or collaborations, are highlighted.

Acknowledgments

Dr. Neil Dufton is gratefully acknowledged for creating the figure.

References

  1. Williams AJ, Ekins S, Clark AM, Jack JJ, Apodaca RL (2011) Mobile apps for chemistry in the world of drug discovery. Drug Disc Today 16: 928–939.
  2. Walsh E, Cho I (2013) Using Evernote as an electronic lab notebook in a translational science laboratory. J Lab Autom 18: 229–234.
  3. Anon (2014) Twitter. Available: https://twitter.com/. Accessed 14 July 2014.
  4. Chew C, Eysenbach G (2010) Pandemics in the age of Twitter: content analysis of Tweets during the 2009 H1N1 outbreak. PLoS ONE 5: e14118.
  5. Signorini A, Segre AM, Polgreen PM (2011) The use of Twitter to track levels of disease activity and public concern in the U.S. during the influenza A H1N1 pandemic. PLoS ONE 6: e19467.
  6. Chunara R, Andrews JR, Brownstein JS (2012) Social and news media enable estimation of epidemiological patterns early in the 2010 Haitian cholera outbreak. Am J Trop Med Hyg 86: 39–45.
  7. Ekins S, Clark AM, Williams AJ (2012) Open Drug Discovery Teams: A Chemistry Mobile App for Collaboration. Molecular Informatics 31: 585–597.
  8. Ekins S, Clark AM, Williams AJ (2012) Open Drug Discovery Teams: A Chemistry Mobile App for Collaboration. Mol Inform 31: 585–597.
  9. Ekins S, Clark AM, Williams AJ (2013) Incorporating Green Chemistry Concepts into Mobile Chemistry Applications and Their Potential Uses. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 1: 8–13.
  10. Anon (2014) Storify. Available: https://storify.com/. Accessed 14 July 2014.
  11. Anon (2014) Science Online. Available: http://scienceonline.com/. Accessed 14 July 2014.
  12. Anon (2014) World Symposium. Available: http://lysosomaldiseasenetwork.org/. Accessed 14 July 2014.
  13. Priego E (2012 October 3) Live-tweeting at academic conferences: 10 rules of thumb. Available: http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2012/oct/03/ethics-live-tweeting-academic-conferences. Accessed 14 July 2014.
  14. Croxall B (2014 January 6) Ten Tips for Tweeting at Conferences. Available: http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/ten-tips-for-tweeting-at-conferences/54281. Accessed 14 July 2014.
  15. Varin V (2013 March 5) The Dos and Don'ts of Live-Tweeting at an Academic Conference: An Update. Available: http://blog.historians.org/2013/03/the-dos-and-donts-of-live-tweeting-at-an-academic-conference-an-update/. Accessed 14 July 2014.
  16. Long CP (2013 September 16) The art of live-tweeting. Available: http://www.cplong.org/2013/09/the-art-of-live-tweeting/. Accessed 14 July 2014.
  17. Shiffman D (2012 January 17) How to live-tweet a conference: A guide for conference organizers and twitter users. Available: http://www.southernfriedscience.com/?p=12120. Accessed 14 July 2014.
  18. Lister AL, Datta RS, Hofmann O, Krause R, Kuhn M, et al. (2010) Live coverage of scientific conferences using web technologies. PLoS Comput Biol 6: e1000563.

ISCB Policy for Acceptable Use of Large Language Models

In recent years, large language models (LLMs) with billions of parameters have become increasingly adept at generating text. These models are also beginning to have an important influence as tools for computational biology. With the emergence of freely available text generation tools, the International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) has decided to create an acceptable use policy for these models. Application of the ISCB Acceptable Use of Large Language Models Policy is intended for all scientific research submissions to ISCB Conferences, as well as research submissions to the ISCB/OUP Bioinformatic Advances and OUP Bioinformatics journals.  

The development of these models is changing rapidly, and it is not easy to foresee how these models may be adopted. Therefore, it is likely that these guidelines will be subject to change in the future. 

Common Acceptable Uses:

  • As an aid to correct written text (spell checkers, grammar checkers)
  • As an aid to language translation, however, the researcher is responsible for the accuracy of the final text
  • As an algorithmic technique for research study
  • As an evaluation technique (to assist in finding inconsistencies or other anomalies)
  • It is permissible to include LLM generated text snippets as examples in research papers where appropriate, but these MUST be clearly labeled, and their use explained.
  • Assist in code writing, however, the researcher is responsible for the correct code
  • Create documentation for code, however, the researcher is responsible for the correct documentation

Any acceptable use of LLMs or related technologies to produce, or help to produce, part of the text, figures or other contents of the paper should be explicitly declared and documented with sufficient details in the supplementary materials.

Common Unacceptable Uses:

  • It is not acceptable to use LLMs or related technologies to draft papers (including but not limited to text, figures, tables, and references) from a prompt text. In essence, papers MUST be written by researchers.
  • LLMs cannot be listed as authors as they would not fulfill the requirements of authorship as laid out in the ICMJE guidelines.

If your usage of LLMs is not covered by any of these use cases, then please contact the Editor of the journal or Chair of the Conference for guidance.

At present, we do not intend to systematically detect usage of these models, but we will investigate reported instances on a case-by-case basis.

ISCB strongly encourages its affiliated groups and affiliated conferences to apply the Policy to scientific research submissions for their individual conferences and journals. 

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Health and Safety Protocols

We encourage you to monitor this page to stay abreast of the latest updates on health and safety protocols for ISCB conferences. ISCB reserves the right to alter these protocols as appropriate at any time.

The safety of conference participants is ISCB’s top priority. Participants should be aware that, while ISCB will make every effort to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission on-site, it is possible that attendees will come in contact with people in airports, hotels, or around the conference facility who could potentially carry the virus, which is why ISCB is recommending attendees for their own safety, as well as the safety of others follow World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.

Entry into the host nation may require measures beyond those that are stated by ISCB to gain access to the country.  As ISCB is required to abide by those entry requirements, please be sure to consult the country's official website.

Participants of ISCB Conferences understand that it is their responsibility to review and ensure compliance with any stated country guidelines both for coming into the country and departing the country to return to their country of origin.  Costs associated with travel are the responsibility of the participant.

For the purposes of right of entry ISCB Conferences, ISCB follows the recommendations of the World Health Organization to take all COVID-19 vaccine doses recommended to you by your health authority as soon as it is your turn, including a booster dose if recommended.

For those unable to travel or meet the vaccination requirement, ISCB offers several virtual meeting registration options.

ISCB believes the most effective way for participants to maximize their own safety is for them to be vaccinated and boosted if eligible and able against COVID-19.

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How will vaccinations be verified?

Participants electing to attend in-person will be asked to self-attest during the registration process confirming they meet the entry requirements.

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Will ISCB require proof of a negative COVID test upon arrival?

While ISCB will not require proof of a negative COVID test prior to arrival onsite, it strongly encourages all in-person participants to test for infection prior to departing for the conference.  As testing completion times vary world-wide, our suggested test period is no more than 48 hours before departing from your home.

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On-Site Safety Measures

Public health guidance on preventing the transmission of COVID-19 continues to evolve, and ISCB will base its on-site protocols on the latest guidance.

We encourage attendees to bring their own test kits and test prior to attending the meeting and every day or two during the meeting to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19. We can assist attendees who have no access to tests.  ISCB will provide the locations of local retail stores where tests can be purchased and will have a limited number of tests at the convention center for purchase by attendees.

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Sanitization

Even though the science now shows that COVID-19 transmission is less likely to occur from touching surfaces touched by multiple persons (i.e., lecterns), staff will clean these regularly to promote healthy sanitation overall. The convention center will also have sanitization stations throughout the venue.

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Protective Masks

The wearing of protective masks is not required, but they are strongly encouraged.  ISCB reserves the right to alter this protocol as appropriate at any time.  Participants are welcome to bring their own mask of choice and wear it if they wish. ISCB will have a limited supply of masks available onsite for those who wish to wear a mask.

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Symptom Development While Onsite

On-site participants must agree that if they become symptomatic, they will immediately cease in-person participation in the meeting and all related events and get tested for COVID-19. Individuals who test positive will not be permitted to continue attending the meeting in-person until a negative test is produced. Even with a negative test, those who are ill should not participate in the meeting in person.

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COVID-19 Testing

ISCB will not have a testing facility onsite at the conference location.  ISCB will have self-administered rapid antigen tests (supply limited) available at the registration desk for those who wish to test during the conference and are unable to obtain tests.  If you are onsite and experiencing symptoms, please contact ISCB (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.); we will bring a test to your hotel.

ISCB strongly encourages participants to bring their own testing kits if they wish to test throughout the conference.

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What happens if I test positive onsite?

Participants who test positive for COVID-19 onsite must follow the COVID-19 rules of the country the conference is held in.  They will not be allowed to attend sessions in-person until a negative test can be produced, but they will still have access to the virtual platform.

Information on individuals who test positive, including the name of the individual testing positive and the session in which the individual participated, will be provided to staff overseeing the COVID-19 testing and response efforts. This will enable staff to follow up with these individuals to provide information on policies for isolating while on site, facilitate safe and comfortable quarantine arrangements, and provide information on local health care options as needed. While aggregate information about the number of positive cases will be made available to other attendees, the identity of individuals who test positive will be kept confidential.

Unfortunately, a formal contact tracing system is not available. ISCB will, however, make aggregate data available to attendees via the conference app about the number of positive cases reported at the meeting so they can make informed decisions about their participation.

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COVAC GLOBAL

While ISCB is taking numerous precautions to alleviate the risk to meeting attendees, the possibility of testing positive during the meeting, and therefore possibly needing to quarantine in place per the guidelines of the country the conference is held in, may factor into individual decisions about attending the conference. To help address these concerns, ISCB recommends COVAC GLOBAL, a leading provider of medical evacuation services, to offer in-person attendees the option to purchase its COVID-19 Evacuation and Repatriation service. For those who purchase this service in advance, COVAC GLOBAL will arrange for medical transport – via private jet – back to your home to complete your quarantine at no additional expense, should you be diagnosed with COVID-19 while at the conference.

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Conference Refund Policy

ISCB understands the continued volatility of the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis. In the event a registered participant cannot travel due to a positive test result prior to departing for the conference, ISCB will partially refund the participant’s registration fee reducing it to the virtual registration fee which allows the participant access to the virtual platform.  Participants who are unable to participate in the conference virtually may request a full refund. Full refund requests must be made prior to the start of the conference and be accompanied by positive COVID-19 testing documentation. ISCB will not accept refund requests after the set conference start time.

The above cancellation policy is specifically related to the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis.  For details on conference cancellation, visit the conference's registration page

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ISCB COVID-19 Waiver

Upon registration to the conference, ISCB will require all in-person participants to sign the following waiver:

I understand that travel and gathering involves risk of sickness, including sickness from COVID-19. I (and on behalf of my guest(s)) waive and release ISCB and its sponsors and exhibitors, and their employees and agents, from and against claims, liabilities and expenses arising from injury, sickness or death from contraction or spread of COVID-19 or other communicable disease due to travel to or attendance at an event sponsored by ISCB.

I will take necessary precautions while at the event including, but not limited to, engaging in appropriate social distancing, wearing a mask when requested and/or required, frequently washing hands and avoiding risky environments such as overcrowded bars or restaurants. I agree to not attend any ISMB/ECCB event if I feel ill or had recent exposure to a COVID-19 case. This waiver and release is binding on me.

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ISCB Privacy Policy

Updated April 2018



The International Society for Computational Biology, Inc. (ISCB) respects, and is committed to protecting, the privacy of its members and readers. This Privacy Statement describes the policy and practice for use of information collected online from the ISCB website (iscb.org), its affiliated websites, and all order forms and member services accessible from those sites. These sites may link to other websites over which, ISCB has no control and, therefore, is not responsible. Your use of ISCB websites constitutes your acceptance of this Privacy Statement. If you do not agree with all the terms in this Privacy Statement, you should not use ISCB websites or services.

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This Privacy Statement Describes

  1. The types of information ISCB collects from members, subscribers, and readers and how this information is used
  2. With whom ISCB shares the information it collects
  3. Steps that ISCB takes to protect the privacy of the information it collects
  4. Choices the user may make about the information he or she provides

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Types and Use of Information Collected

  1. Personal Information
    ISCB collects only information supplied by the user. On certain web pages, ISCB asks the user to enter personal information such as name, address, email address, telephone number, fax number, credit card number, and other information from which the user's identity is discernible. Examples include:
    1. Membership renewal information
    2. ISCB official conferences registration
    3. ISCB donation and annual giving pages
    4. Sponsorship and exhibiting forms
    5. ISCB Career Center
    6. When users contact ISCB by phone or email
    ISCB uses credit card information only to process a payment.

    Personal data collected by ISCB is: (a) processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner in relation to the data subject; (b) collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes and not further processed in a manner that is incompatible with those purposes; (c) adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary in relation to the purposes for which data are processed; (d) accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date; every reasonable step is taken to ensure that personal data that are inaccurate, having regard to the purposes for which they are processed, are erased or rectified without delay; (e) kept in a form which permits identification of data subjects for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which the personal data are processed or for which is provided consent by the user; personal data stored for longer periods insofar as the personal data will be processed solely for archiving purposes are safeguarded; (f) processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security of the personal data, including protection against unauthorized or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction or damage, using appropriate technical or organizational measures.
  2. Non-Personal Information
    ISCB also collects non-personal information such as:
    1. Cookies. These are pieces of data placed on the user's hard drive for a variety of reasons, including authentication (for example, to track individual website views). Cookies are collected by third party vendors with whom ISCB contracts for services. Users may set browsers to alert them to the use of cookies and may reject the use of the cookie, but rejection may prevent the website from functioning properly.
    2. IP addresses.
    3. Web-beacons. These are objects embedded into a webpage or email, which allow ISCB to confirm that the user has viewed the webpage or the email.
    4. Referring website addresses.

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Sharing of Information

ISCB does not sell or otherwise disclose the information it collects to third parties, except as follows:

  1. If required to do so by law, or if requested/subpoenaed by law enforcement agencies.
  2. Information may be disclosed to consultants for internal business purposes.
  3. ISCB may sell its mailing list to parties who provide products or services of interest the community. Members who do not wish to have their information shared may opt-out of mailing in their member profiles.


ISCB reserves the right to transfer information in the event that another entity acquires portions of the activities conducted by ISCB. Should this occur, all reasonable efforts will be made to ensure the new entity follows a similar Privacy Policy to ISCB.

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Steps ISCB Takes to Protect the Privacy of Information it Collects

ISCB implements reasonable technical and administrative practices to safeguard the information it collects. For example, ISCB server's are firewalled to help protect a breach of data. ISCB employees are trained on appropriate use of information and the need for confidentiality. In addition, credit card payments submitted online on web pages are secured by the appropriate software and verified by Authorize.net. Credit card numbers submitted online are not stored by ISCB.

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Your Choices

  1. If you would like to update your member contact information and preferences, you can do so at MyISCB
  2. If you do not wish to have your mailing address shared with third parties, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  3. To unsubscribe from email alerts from ISCB, click unsubscribe at the bottom of the email.
  4. Request a copy of what is being stored by ISCB.  Request processing times will apply.
  5. Your use of ISCB websites constitutes your acceptance of this Privacy Statement. If you do not agree with all the terms in this Privacy Statement, you should not use ISCB websites or services.

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Changes to this Privacy Statement

ISCB reserves the right to make changes to this Privacy Statement at any time. These changes will be indicated by a change to the "Last Updated" date on the page. Your continued use of the sites after any change indicates your agreement with the altered Privacy Statement.

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Children's Policy

ISCB does not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 18. If ISCB learns that it has personally identifiable information about a child under the age of 18, this information will be deleted. If you are under the age of 18 and wish to register to obtain further information or be included in a survey, your parent or legal guardian must register for you.

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