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Overview
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Preparation is now well underway for our Early Career Microbiologists’ (ECM) Forum Summer Conference (#ECMConf22), which will see the Society return to its in person annual meeting format following a two-year hiatus due to the global health crisis.

The conference is dedicated to showcasing early career research, career development and networking. It will provide undergraduate, masters and PhD students with a peer-led conference experience designed to offer an introductory experience to scientific conferences and professional development opportunities.

Organising committee:
  • Ella Rodwell (UK Health Security Agency, UK)
  • Emilene Da Silva Morais (University College Cork, Ireland)
  • Jack Ferguson (University of Birmingham, UK)
  • Raphael Galleh (University of Sheffield, UK)
COVID-19 mitigations

Microbiology Society is taking seriously its actions in doing its best to mitigate against COVID-19 at our in-person events.

Council members and members of the Virus Division, including Paul Kellam (Council Member), Gill Elliott (Chair of Scientific Conferences Panel), Stephen Griffin (Chair of Virus Division), Jo Parish (incoming Chair of Virus Division) and Elly Gaunt (Virus Division Member), have worked with Society staff to develop a framework of mitigations for the Society to apply to its events throughout 2022, in order to ensure as COVID-secure an event as possible.
 
Implementation of this framework is a shared responsibility; shared between the Society, the venues we use for our events, and all potential delegates. It will be incumbent on all of us to deliver these mitigations in order for us to keep our delegates, members, and staff as safe as we can.
 
The framework covers the following five areas.

  1. Vaccines
  2. Ventilation
  3. Masks
  4. Testing
  5. Spacing, particularly during communal activities such as lunch and poster sessions

The following mitigations will be implemented for all those attending the ECM Forum Summer Conference 2022. The Society staff will continue to consult with the organising committee in the lead up to the event and these mitigations will be kept under review and may be amended to ensure they remain appropriate as circumstances change.

Mitigation area  
Vaccines

All attendees are required to be fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine against COVID-19 to attend the ECM Forum Summer Conference 2022. For many individuals, this will mean a primary course and booster vaccine, and with the booster administered at least 14 days before the meeting. However, if you do not meet this requirement or if you have any concerns around your vaccination status, please get in touch with us to discuss it further by emailing profdev@microbiologysociety.org.

You can find further information on vaccines on the World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 vaccine advice page, which includes a list of vaccines that have been approved for use against COVID-19.
Ventilation Best efforts will be made to promote the circulation of fresh air into the venue. This will include use of air conditioning, if available at the meeting venue, or opening of doors and windows during appropriate intervals in the event programme if possible.
Masks FFP3 masks will be provided to all individuals attending the ECM Forum Summer Conference 2022 and everyone will be expected to wear them inside the meeting venue, except when eating or drinking and except for those that have medical exemptions.
Testing Attendees will be provided with LFT devices and are expected to test themselves daily before entering the meeting venue.
Spacing All attendees are reminded to adhere to social distancing where possible, particularly during communal activities such as lunch and poster sessions.