Leading Professional Society for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics
Connecting, Training, Empowering, Worldwide

FAQ


Q: What is ISCB?
A: The International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) is the parent organization of the annual Great Lakes Bioinformatics (GLBIO) Conference. The ISCB is dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding of living systems through computation. The ISCB communicates the significance of our science to the larger scientific community, governments, and the public at large. The ISCB serves a global membership by impacting government and scientific policies, providing high quality publications and meetings, and through distribution of valuable information about training, education, employment and relevant news from related fields. ISCB membership offers many benefits including reduced conference registration fees to several high impact events and reduced subscription prices for a selection of journals of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics. Members are from more than 50 countries and include over 800 students and nearly 500 post doctoral researchers.

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Q: Who do I contact for information on the conference?
A: You can get information on the conference from:

Bel Hanson
ISCB Director of Operations & Programs
Phone: +1-571-293-2113
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Justine Morris
ISCB Coordinator of Operations & Programs
Phone: +1-571-293-2113
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Q: Where will the conference be held?
A: The conference will be held at The Graduate by Hilton Minneapolis at the University of Minneapolis in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Address:
615 Washington Ave SE,
Minneapolis, Minnesota,
55414,
USA

Click here for the Google map view!

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Q: Is there a map of the venue?
A: The entire conference is taking place within The Graduate Hotel. You can click here for a PDF of the event space floor at the hotel, or click here for a 3D model view or here for 360° photos of the hotel spaces.

If you decide to visit the UMN campus, you can find interactive maps here. There is also an extensive PDF map here.

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Q: Will I be able to present virtually?
A: For a variety of reasons, ISCB strongly prefers that scientific research accepted for oral presentation be presented in-person at the conference venue. Nevertheless, we understand that some presenters will be unable to attend the conference in person.

ISCB will grant remote presentation options for reasons associated with:

  • Paternity/paternity leave
  • Care for a family member
  • Personal/medical disability
  • Sickness
  • Financial hardship
  • Potential visa problems

If your research is accepted for oral presentation and you are unable to present in person, ISCB requires notification at the time of acceptance and no later than Monday, April 14, 2024.

You will be asked during your confirmation of participation to confirm your in-person participation. If you are unable to participate in person, you will need to request a waiver by writing to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Q: What Hotel is being used for the conference?
A: The conference accommodation is The Graduate Hotel.

Address:
615 Washington Ave SE,
Minneapolis, Minnesota,
55414,
USA

For details visit this link.

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Q: Are Children allowed at the conference?
A: ISCB conferences are professional events. Children of registered ISCB conference attendees are welcome to attend the conference with their parent or guardian, as long as younger children are under the supervision of a parent or guardian at all times. Parents or guardians may bring children to educational events provided the child does not disrupt the event.

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Q: Will child care be available?
A: Details coming soon.

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Q: How do I get from the airport to my hotel? How can I travel around the city?
A: The Graduate Hotel (and the University of Minnesota campus) is a short trip from Minneapolis/St. Paul International airport (MSP).

Rideshare: Lyft and Uber are popular rideshare options in Minneapolis. Whichever app you choose should provide instructions on where to meet your driver, but here are a few hints:

Terminal 1 Pick-up Point: In the airport, follow signs for baggage claim/ground transportation. Once at the baggage claim level, follow signs for “app-based ride service." This will lead you to Level 2 of the Green Parking Ramp. Pickup will occur at either Zone A or Zone B. Note: These zones are right next to each other, but different door entrances.

Terminal 2 Pick-up Point: In the airport, follow signs to the arrivals level, then look for the app-based ride services signs. Pick-up will be across the street at the Ground Transport Center, on the ground level of the Purple Parking Ramp.

Taxi: To catch a taxi or shuttle at the airport, follow signs to the Ground Transportation Center one level below baggage claim. A taxi directly to campus or The Graduate Hotel from the airport will take approximately 20-30 minutes, depending upon traffic.

Light Rail: Light Rail Service, a less expensive alternative to taking a tax, is also available as a form of travel from the airport to the UMN campus. The trip between the airport and the University via the Light Rail takes about 45 minutes. From the airport, take the blue line from either Terminal 1 or 2 to the US Bank Stadium station. There, transfer to the green line heading east to campus. The final stop on the green line will be the East Bank station, a half block from The Graduate Hotel.

All options above are also great ways to get around the city!

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Q: Is parking available at the hotel?
A: The Graduate has on-site parking for hotel guests. On-site parking is $28/day.

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Q: What attractions and sightseeing opportunities are available?
A: There is so much to do in Minneapolis in the spring! The City of Minneapolis’s website has a great collection of things to do in the city no matter when you’re visiting.

The month of May will be peak springtime in the city, so be sure to check out the seasonal suggestions for things to do here, and check back regularly as the GLBIO 2025 conference approaches for the most up-to-date goings on!

You can check what’ll be happening in Minneapolis through the events calendar or download a free PDF of the official Minneapolis Visitor Guide at this link.

If you’re a golfer, you can also stay right in The Graduate and rent a hitting bat at their in-house, hotel exclusive Topgolf Swing Suite!

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Q: What restaurants are close to the venue or my hotel?
A: The Graduate has an in-house restaurant, The Beacon Public House, open every day from 7am to 9pm. You can find more info or make a reservation here.

You can also find great restaurant options here. When you scroll down the page, you will see multiple category options for restaurants to be found in Minneapolis, including places for brunch, fine dining, kid-friendly restaurants, and unique experiences!

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Q: Are there any special discounts available for attendees?
A: Yes! We have a discounted block of rooms at The Graduate Hotel. Visit the conference Venue and Accommodation page to book your room and take advantage of the discounted rate!

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Q: What is the local Time Zone?
A: Minneapolis, Minnesota is in the Central time zone. During May, Minneapolis is in Central Daylight Time (CDT). This is UTC/GMT -5 hours.

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Q: What is the climate?
A: The month of May in Minneapolis averages 64°F (15°C), with an average low temperature of 54°F (10°C) and an average high temperature of 73°F (21°C). Attendees should consider bringing a light jacket or raincoat in case of cooler days or spring rain showers.

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Q: Where can I find medical or emergency information?
A: If you are in need of emergency assistance, call 911 immediately.

If you visit the UMN campus and need emergency assistance, use the Code Blue Emergency Phones for instant two-way communication with the University Police. You can call 612-624-2677 to find out the location of these phones. You can also reach the University Police at 612-624-3550.

Q: How can I pay to register?
A: Delegates can pay online during registration using a Visa, MasterCard, or American Express credit card. Delegates wishing to pay using a wire transfer will select “pay by wire” on the Additional Options page and the Payment page during registration to create an invoice. Wire transfer information will be found on the summary page once registration is complete, as well as at the bottom of the PDF of your invoice.

Please take note of the following important dates as pertains to registration payments:

  • Last day to pay by check/wire: Friday, April 28, 2025
  • Last day to cancel and receive a full refund: Monday, March 3, 2025
  • Last day to cancel and receive a refund minus a $50 fee: Friday, May 9, 2025

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Q: Where do I register when I arrive?
A: Conference Registration is available for the duration of the conference, May 12th to May 15th, at The Graduate Hotel, Level 2 foyer.

Watch for signage!

REGISTRATION DESK HOURS – May 12 – 15

Monday, May 12 — 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Tuesday, May 13 — 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday, May 14 — 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday, May 15 — 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

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Q: What should I do if I lose something at the conference venue?
A: A conference lost and found will be located at the registration desk. Otherwise, you can check with hotel staff at the front desk of The Graduate Hotel.

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Q: What is the policy of photography or image capture?
A: ISCB encourages open sharing of science. As an author, you have the right to restrict the use of photography or any other form of capture of your research. If you do not wish to allow others to share your research, simply disclose this at the start of your oral presentation or add a note to your poster.

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Q: What are the hashtags for the conference?
A: The hashtag is #GLBIO or #GLBIO2025.
@ISCB is the ISCB Twitter/X handle.
@iscbnews is the ISCB Instagram handle.

We encourage the use of Twitter/X at the conference to disseminate information.  ISCB kindly requests that you observe the Conference Code of Conduct when tweeting.  If you have a specific complaint, suggestion, or comment related to conference logistics, audio, heating and cooling, bathroom cleanliness, etc, we kindly request that you communicate your wish to a volunteer wearing an ISCB shirt, go to the conference registration desk, or an ISCB team member.  Due to limited resources and the demands of managing the conference ISCB is unable to monitor Twitter/X fully and may miss an improvement request.

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