Update on ISBS Conference in 2020

September 16-19, 2020, St-Petersburg, Russia

September 23-24, 2020, Kyiv, Ukraine

Dear ISBS Community,

We hope that you all stay safe and healthy, as our normal ways of life have been challenged and impacted by COVID-19 this year.

As you know, out of concerns for safety, earlier this May - for the first time in nearly 30 years of our meetings - we had to cancel our 2020 annual congress, as well as several smaller regional conferences in Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, US and Japan.

As we are monitoring situation closely, we are writing to update you on our plans this year. The easiest solution would be to cancel all ISBS events in 2020, and we fully recognize that. At the same time, this would mean being unable to share important research, to network with colleagues, and - especially for young scientists - to present their findings. Organizing a completely virtual meeting, albeit easier and safer, would not fully reach the goal. Considering all circumstances, ISBS will hold two in-person meetings with on-line participation as follows:

27th International "Stress and Behavior" Neuroscience and Biopsychiatry Conference, September 16-19, 2020, St-Petersburg, Russia, Venue: Oktiabrskaya Hotel, 10 Ligovsky Prospect, St-Petersburg, Russia

4th International Neuroscience and Biological Psychiatry ISBS Symposium "Translational Biological Psychiatry", September 23-24, 2020, Kyiv, Ukraine, Venue: Great
Conference Hall of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 55 Volodymyrska Street, Kyiv, Ukraine  

CONFERENCE FORMAT: The in-person events will provide social distancing for delegates. On-line streaming will be provided in the Conference room, as well as broadcasted via the internet. This hybrid format of the conference will enable every member of our community to continue to be engaged in their professional activity. Those delegates who are planning to attend in-person, will be able to do so. Those who are affected by any travel restrictions will be able to present on-line. Those delegates who are in a risk group, we encourage not to travel, but to participate on-line. Those who would prefer to present in 2021, will be able to deter their presentations. ISBS Office will work with all delegates to accommodate their individual requests.

REGISTRATION: There will be no registration fees for an on-line participation of our registered delegates this year. Delegates with paid registration fees, regardless of in-person or on-line participation this year, will receive automatic complimentary registration for our 2021 event (if desired, this can be deterred further). These arrangements will provide maximum flexibility for our delegates, allowing them to choose the format most appropriate for their plans.

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS: The Organizing Committee will publish the 2020 Abstract Book with abstracts of all presentations, given at our meeting this fall. On-line version of this Abstract Book will be posted on our ISBS web-site. Delegates who will prefer to present in 2021, will be able to do so by contacting our Secretariat - in that case, such abstracts will be removed from 2020 Abstract Book, and transferred to 2021. Delegates, who wish to withdraw their abstracts, please contact Secretariat before Aug 15, 2020, and such abstracts will be automatically removed from the Program.

HOTEL AND SOCIAL PROGRAM RESERVATIONS: ISBS will provide full refund for all cancelled hotel and social program reservations. For our delegates participating in-person, we will provide hotel and social program, as requested.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVELS: All international travels are subject to travel restrictions that are in place during the events. Each country has its own travel restrictions - please verify the most recent ones that apply to you. ISBS cannot be responsible for any changes in travel plans of our delegates due to any such restrictions.

We believe that every challenge also presents an opportunity. As such, we hope that these arrangements will accommodate every need of our community. ISBS is absorbing all organizational costs, to enable us to continue to enjoy sharing our science. Delegates presenting this year will enjoy a complimentary registration for our next ISBS event.

We look forward to welcoming you this fall - either in-person or on-line. In the meanwhile, please stay safe and healthy!

Cordially,
NA Nutsa