BioMolecular Horizons 2024

Guiding Principles

Equity and Diversity Policy

The Organising Committee is committed to the promotion of inclusion, diversity and gender equality for the Biomolecular Horizons 2024 Congress. Delegates of any ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion, age, gender expression, sexual orientation and geographical location are encouraged and welcomed to participate. The Organisers will make every attempt to achieve gender balance and geographical diversity in all aspects of the event, in line with the diversity in our research community and anticipated audience. We will achieve this balance through diverse representation on Organising Committees, and as Session Chairs. The Committee will ensure diversity of invited speakers and will select speakers from submitted Abstracts matching the diversity of the submitting authors. The Organisers will work to address any actions that contravene the Committee’s principles of equity and diversity. The Congress will offer a number of bursaries to help with childcare-related travel expenses and travel support fellowships for delegates from lower income countries.

Media (including Social Media) Policy

Whilst the use of social media before, during and after the Biomolecular Horizons 2024 Congress is allowed and encouraged for the dissemination of information and for networking in relation to the Congress, there are guidelines that all delegates are expected to adhere to.

Delegates are encouraged to:

- Tweet, blog, share on social media about research, content, or activities presented and conducted at the Congress. However, where the speaker explicitly states that the material presented is not to be shared, please respect their request.

- Communicate with respect and consideration for other delegates and speakers and keep any criticisms or comments constructive. Please refer to the Congress Code of Conduct for what constitutes “harassment” and the consequences should this Code be breached.

Delegates must not:

- Use photography, video, or any other type of recording devices to capture presentations from other delegates without permission. This is strictly prohibited in all sessions including both oral and poster sessions.

- Share, post, disseminate photos, images, or videos captured or recorded in oral and poster sessions at the Congress via any online (including websites, blogs, newsletters) or social media platform without permission.

- Use rude, slanderous or discriminatory language or engage in personal attacks aggressive behaviour online or in person. Please refer to the Congress Code of Conduct for what constitutes “harassment” and the consequences should this Code be breached.

Scientific Integrity Policy

The Biomolecular Horizons 2024 Congress provides an international forum for the presentation and discussion of research and science from participating delegates. It is expected that the underlying research covered in any presentation or discussion shall have been conducted in accordance with the highest standards of scientific integrity and ethics.

Whilst the Congress organisers do not expect that scientific research misconduct will be or is an issue at the Congress, this policy was established to address the unlikely event that this occurs and to reassure Congress delegates that scientific research misconduct will not be tolerated.

The definition of “scientific research misconduct” shall adopt the same definitions as The Australian code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, 2018 (the Code), the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research and the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes 8th edition (2013).

Code of Conduct

The Biomolecular Horizons 2024 Congress organisers are committed to providing an environment that encourages free expression and discussion, as well as the exchange of scientific ideas. All organisers, speakers, students, guests, media, exhibitors, staff, vendors, and other participants are required to agree with the following code of conduct.

Harassment includes offensive verbal and written comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion, technology choices, sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.

Congress participants asked to stop any harassing behaviour are expected to comply immediately. If a participant fails to comply and continues to engage in harassing behaviour, the Congress organisers and Society Councils will take appropriate action. This includes warning the offender, expulsion from the Congress with no refund of registration fees, potential bans from attending future IUBMB, FAOBMB, ASBMB and other participating Society meetings and/or activities; and being dealt with in accordance with relevant Society policies. In addition, the behaviour may be reported to relevant employers, and relevant authorities may be informed.

If any Congress participant is being harassed, notices that another Congress delegate is being harassed, or has any other concerns, they are encouraged to immediately inform the alleged harasser that the behaviour is unwelcome and unwarranted. However, anyone being harassed is not required to address the alleged harasser directly if they are not comfortable doing so.

Please contact the Congress Organiser.

The Congress organisers will ensure that any reported or suspected occurrences of harassment or breach of the Congress Code of Conduct will be promptly and thoroughly investigated by the Congress organisers and/or Society Councils. Following an investigation, immediate and appropriate action will ensue. Acts of retaliation against anyone who files harassment complaints or who aids the investigation will not be tolerated.