The 4th Proteostasis and Disease Research Symposium

The Symposium Committee recognize that some sections of the scientific community are often under-represented in conference programs and attendance, and that this adversely affects the community's long-term diversity goals. Our policies were therefore developed to promote equality in all aspects of the Symposium.

The program chairs will ensure that the scientific program is of the highest quality and encompasses speakers representing the broad diversity of our community without bias in regards to gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, geography, (dis)abilities, or nation of origin. In addition, we commit to gender parity with respect to committee members, invited international, national and selected speakers, and session chairs.

To aid this commitment, the Symposium will support a family-friendly environment by providing free registration for children and carer attendees. Family space will be provided and children will be allowed in sessions.

We are also pleased to report that the organising committee is composed of 50% female researchers spanning early to established career stages. We will report statistics detailing the geographic distribution, career stage and gender balance of the speakers, session chairs, and attendees here immediately following the Symposium.

We are committed to providing a safe, productive, and welcoming environment for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, (dis)ability, physical appearance, body size, race, nationality or religion. All Symposium participants are expected to abide by the following Code of Conduct, including, but not limited to, attendees, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, staff and service providers.

Expected Behaviour

By participating in the Symposium, you agree to:

• be considerate, respectful, and collaborative with others.
• communicate openly, critiquing ideas rather than individuals.
• value and encourage a diversity of views and opinions
• avoid personal attacks or insults directed toward other participants.
• be mindful of your surroundings and fellow participants, reporting any issues immediately.
• respect the rules and policies of the meeting venue
• adhere to the Social Media Guidelines and COVID management policy

Unacceptable Behaviour

Physical or verbal abuse, harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form will not be tolerated.

Harassment includes, but is not limited to:

• sustained disruption of talks or other events
• inappropriate physical contact, sexual attention or innuendo
• deliberate intimidation or stalking
• photography or recording of an individual without consent
• offensive comments related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion.

In addition, recording or photography of another individual's presentation without explicit consent is not permitted. Please refer to the Social Media Guidelines for more detailed information.

We encourage you to engage with social media before, during, and after the Symposium as a means to share information and build networks with other attendees, as well as the broader community. However, please be mindful of the following guidelines:

• Attendees are welcome to blog, post or tweet freely about what they hear, learn and experience at the Symposium however attendees must refrain from sharing when the speaker explicitly requests you do so. The content of talks are considered shareable by default, but speakers may request that specific details or slides are not shared using the "Please don't tweet" logo. Versions of this logo are available for speakers to download (png and svg) and will be provided in sticker format for poster presentations during the Symposium.
• The use of photographic, video, or other types of recording device is strictly prohibited in all oral and poster sessions displaying the "Please don't tweet" logo. Likewise, it is strictly prohibited to post photos, images or video recordings from these sessions to any online platform, including but not limited to social media, blogs, personal web pages, etc.
• Attendees must not capture, transmit, or re-distribute data presented by others at the Symposium. This may preclude subsequent publication of the data in a scientific journal. Please be respectful of journal embargo policies and do not jeopardize the work of your colleagues!
• All online communication should be respectful and considerate towards others, and constructive criticism should be directed at ideas, not individuals. Do not engage in rudeness, slander, or personal attacks.
• Remember to tag the Symposium on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the #ozproteostasis2022 tag, and be sure to follow us @ProteostasisAU on Twitter!

Download PNG: "Please don't tweet" logo

Twitter Terms and Conditions 

The @ProteostasisAU Twitter account is maintained by members of the Proteostasis and Disease Symposium Organising Committee. 

Content will generally relate to the 2022 Proteostasis and Disease Symposium (hybrid conference).

The Proteostasis and Disease Symposium Organising Committee encourages constructive engagement with our social media. However, if an account is seen to use profanity, intimidation, harassment or spam, our account moderators maintain the right to permanently block or ban users. 

Following 

If you follow us on Twitter we may follow you back. We may also follow other Twitter users who we think are relevant or interested in our work. Being followed by @ProteostasisAU does not indicate endorsement or preference for any person, organisation or position on specific topics/issues. 

@ Replies and Direct Messages 

The Proteostasis and Disease Symposium Organising Committee appreciates receiving feedback and suggestions via Twitter and will maintain consistent monitoring of the accounts. However, we may not respond directly to individual messages. 

The 2022 edition of the Proteostasis and Disease Symposium is intended to operate as a hybrid event, with both in-person and virtual components. We have worked hard to develop a unique experience for both components of the conference for all our attendees and sponsors, and are committed to delivering an engaging experience irrespective of the final format. 

Due to the ongoing uncertainty associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, we have developed this COVID management plan to ensure all attendees are able to engage with the Symposium safely. In the event that changes to local COVID restrictions force us to alter the Symposium format, registered attendees will be notified via email in addition to general updates being provided via the Symposium website.We will endeavour to maintain timely updates of any information as it is announced, however attendees are also advised to monitor the relevant public health information services as outlined below. In addition, international attendees should ensure they meet Australian Government border entry requirements before embarking on travel to the Symposium.

COVID-safe plan for the in-person event 

For those attending in person, we request that you consider continuing to wear a mask or other face covering, and maintain social distancing where possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19. All attendees are required to follow NSW Health guidelines during the event. In addition, as part of the University of Wollongong’s ongoing response to the pandemic and to minimise the risk of COVID-19 to the broader community, COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for anyone attending or undertaking University activities in third-party or public settings. You can view a copy of the University of Wollongong’s COVID-19 response plan along with relevant resources. 

Attendees are asked to be diligent in monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19. If you experience ANY symptoms, are required to isolate or quarantine for any reason, or are awaiting test results, DO NOT attend the in-person Symposium. In each of these circumstances, it is essential that you follow the current guidance provided by NSW Health or your local health authority. 

If you are experiencing any disruption to your ability to attend in person due to COVID-19 infection, get in touch with us as soon as possible at proteostasis-symposium@uow.edu.au and we will convert your registration to a virtual attendee. In addition, please notify us if you develop symptoms up to 3 days after the event to assist with our obligation to notify attendees of any potential exposure events. 

Transition plans in the event of an outbreak

In the event of an outbreak that results in restrictions to the capacity of the in-person Symposium or mobility of attendees, the following adaptations will be triggered:

Registrations: Registrants for the in-person event will have the option to transfer to the comparable online registration up to one month prior to the Symposium commencing, with appropriate compensation for any difference in cost to be arranged by the organising committee within one month of the Symposium. After this time, the organising committee are regrettably unable to offer a refund on any unused portion of the registration. We recommend attendees purchase refundable tickets for travel and engage appropriate travel insurance at the time of booking. 

Speakers: All sessions as scheduled will go ahead. In lieu of in-person networking during the Symposium, additional networking opportunities will be provided via the online platform. In addition, should any speaker choose to transition to a virtual format, support will be provided by the organising team to ensure speakers are able to successfully deliver their presentation online. Details will be provided via email as appropriate.

Sponsors: The organising committee will work with all partners to ensure they are able to attend and engage with both the in-person and online events in an active and meaningful way. For those sponsors whose support included a face-to-face exhibition, the organising committee will be in touch to discuss opportunities to modify the in-person experience in line with government guidelines.

In the event of a lockdown or other government-imposed restrictions which prevent us running the in-person event entirely, we are ready to transition to a fully virtual event. This will trigger the following adaptations:

Registrations: All registrants for the in-person event will have their registration transferred to the comparable online registration automatically, with appropriate compensation to be arranged by the organising committee within one month of the Symposium.

Speakers: All sessions as scheduled will go ahead in a virtual format. To increase engagement, additional networking opportunities will be provided via the online platform, and additional support will be provided by the organising team to ensure speakers are able to successfully deliver their presentation online. Details will be provided to speakers via email as appropriate.

Sponsors: The organising committee will work with all partners to ensure they are able to attend and engage with the online event in an active and meaningful way. For those sponsors whose support included a face-to-face exhibition, the organising committee will be in touch to arrange compensation within one month of the Symposium.

Date beyond which we are unable to provide refunds on registration due to border changes - 10th October 2022

We understand there is a lot of uncertainty around travel at the moment, however we remain committed to hosting the Proteostasis & Disease Symposium 2022 and encourage you to join us in Wollongong to network and participate.

For peace of mind, the Proteostasis & Disease Symposium 2022 will offer complimentary conversions from physical to virtual registrations (and vice versa). If you register to attend in person and cannot travel due to restrictions, you can switch to a virtual registration and we will refund you the difference (excluding credit card surcharge)**

Please contact the Symposium Organisers (proteostasis-symposium@uow.edu.au) to make changes to your registration type or if you have any questions.

** The Symposium Organisers accept no responsibility or liability against cancellations of travel bookings. Delegates are strongly advised to secure appropriate travel and health insurance.

If you are the subject of unacceptable behaviour or have witnessed any such behaviour, please immediately notify a committee member on-site or by emailing your concern to proteostasis-symposium@uow.edu.au. All reports will be handled in a strictly confidential manner.

Anyone experiencing or witnessing behaviour that constitutes an immediate or serious threat to public safety is advised to contact triple-zero (000) and/or locate a venue phone to contact security.

Anyone requested to cease unacceptable behaviour will be expected to comply immediately. Security may take any action deemed necessary and appropriate, including immediate removal of individuals from the Symposium without warning or refund. The committee reserves the right to prohibit attendance at any future meeting by anyone violating this code of conduct.

We welcome any feedback regarding the above statements, policies and procedures, which were adapted from various resources. Please contact proteostasis-symposium@uow.edu.au with any questions, concerns or suggestions.