INCLUSIVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY POLICIES FOR BIOMAH 2026

BIOMAH 2026 will adopt the following safer space policy and implement numerous diversity and inclusivity initiatives in the ongoing effort to improve diversity and inclusivity in this conference.

Specific Diversity and Inclusivity Initiatives

  • BIOMAH 2026 2024 aims to have gender and geographical balance: In the speaker selection care will be exercised to guarantee a gender balance and a geographical representativity.
  • Safer Space Policy: A safer space policy aims to foster an environment of respect, which makes all participants feel welcome – particularly those who are typically marginalized or excluded, whether by religion, ethnicity, sex, gender, or sexual orientation. Differing opinions and perspectives are crucial to effective discussion but all attendees ultimately take responsibility for their own speech and behavior – in person and on social media – throughout the entire event and associated social gatherings.
  • Social sustainability: An event is considered socially sustainable when designed, planned and realized with a strategy that minimizes negative impact on the environment and leaves a positive legacy to the host community.
    Over the years Symposia has been implementing a large number of operational best practices for the daily running of its structure and all its events, from the selection of materials according to eco-sustainability criteria and the energy efficiency of the equipment, to the procedures for possible work peaks and for the replacement of absent staff.

Attendees are encouraged to:

  • Ask respectful questions and avoid dominating a presenter’s question time to further any particular agenda. Question time after a talk is intended to give presenters the opportunity to expand on their talk in response to audience questions and is not a platform for the audience to individually reply.
  • Be mindful of and understand that intersectionality shapes our lived experiences.
  • Actively include all attendees in social gatherings (such as post-conference dinners and social events), particularly those for whom English is not a first language and junior students.

The BIOMAH 2026 conference is organised in collaboration with Symposia, which, over the years, has implemented a large number of operational best practices for the daily running of its structure and all its events, from the selection of materials according to eco-sustainability criteria and the energy efficiency of the equipment, to the procedures for possible work peaks and for the replacement of absent staff.
We expect BIOMAH 26 to welcome a high number of attendees, and we are aware of the environmental impact such large numbers can have. With the purpose of limiting said impact, the following practices will be applied to the catering services as well as to the choice of all equipment, materials, and gadgets.

  • Food waste: Thanks to the collaboration of Symposia with Federcongressi & Eventi, the food bank network Banco Alimentare and the Fair Event organization Equoevento, we will collect the surplus food at the end of the Conference meals and deliver it to charitable organizations such as family homes, soup kitchens, and refugee centers, in accordance with applicable hygiene regulations and in compliance with Italy’s Good Samaritan law (Law 155/2003). Find more here.
  • Carbon neutral: to minimise the waste of CO2 emissions that arise from any conference-related activities and travels, the website and private correspondence with participants will include information on different possibilities to reach the venue, such as public transportation and bike routes. As the Organising Secretariat, Symposia prioritises renewable energy sources and eco-friendly merchandise in the conference kit, and limits CO2 emissions during all stages of its work.