For our Conference, we adopt a safer space policy and implement numerous diversity and inclusivity initiatives.

Conference programme

• We encourage the Programme Committee to invite speakers diverse gender identities, geographical location, background/training, methodological approaches, and research topics.
• We encourage speakers and presenters to create presentations and posters with accessible fonts and character sizes to help partially-sighted participants.

Conference organization and environment

• Safer Space Policy: A safer space policy aims to foster an environment of respect, which makes all participants feel welcome regardless gender, race, religion, (dis)ability, sexual orientation, geographical location, and personal background. Differing opinions and perspectives are crucial to effective discussion but all attendees ultimately take responsibility for their speech and behaviour – in person and on social media – throughout the entire event and associated social gatherings.
• During the registration process for our conferences, we offer the possibility of indicating dietary requirements.
• Social gatherings (such as coffee breaks, lunches, or conference dinners) are organized for participants to be able to network and socialize.

• 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.
• 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.

• We offer discounted registration rates for students.
• We allocate a number of grants to students and early career researchers, with special attention to those coming from underepresented countries
• We offer a diverse range of accommodation options with different prices

• Attendees will be exposed to local history and tradition of the Ethernal City. Beside scientific activities, the social programme will offer to the participants cultural events and the possibility of looking at the city through different eyes.

• Accessible fonts, character sizes, and line spacing for partially-sighted users.
• A search bar to help find everything on the website
• A graphic structure, colour, and contrast that facilitates reading
• Descriptive URLs so that screen readers can easily read them

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.

Our conferences are environmentally-friendly events promoting environmental and social solidarity.

Great care will be put into our Green philosophy that 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 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: Our conferences are climate-friendly and, in the best-case scenario, carbon neutral. As the Organizing Secretariat, Symposia minimizes the waste of CO2 emissions during its work and avoid all CO2 emissions that arise from any conference-related activities and travels. For this reason, in the website and private correspondence with participants, our staff will inform participants of different possibilities to reach the venue, such as public transportation and bike routes. We also prioritize renewable energy sources and eco-friendly merchandise in the conference kit.

• Social sustainability: We encourage socially sustainable conferences, designed, planned, and realized with a strategy that minimizes negative impact on the environment and leaves a positive legacy to the host community.