Conference Policies

Updated May 12, 2022.

Health & Safety

GSA is committed to providing a safe environment for conference attendees, staff, exhibitors, vendors, and others on site at our meetings. To help minimize risks and promote a safe environment at the in-person conference, some Health & Safety policies have been adapted or added to reflect current best practices. Please see below for full details on vaccination and testing requirements and other onsite protocols.

Vaccination Requirement

All participants at the in-person 2022 conferences—presenters, attendees, exhibitors, staff members, guests, and vendors—will be required to be fully vaccinated, including a booster for those who are eligible*, at least 14 days prior to the start of the meeting on June 7, 2022. If you are registered as an in-person attendee and have not yet received a booster, you must receive a booster no later than May 23, 2022. You will be asked for proof of vaccination. Proof of vaccination is your vaccination card (photo is acceptable) from the healthcare provider. Please review our COVID-19 FAQs for information on uploading your proof of vaccination (Note that you will need to upload your proof of vaccination and proof of a negative test at the same time).

GSA revised this vaccination mandate to include a booster after carefully considering recent data and the impact of the Omicron variant. This policy is meant to ensure that in-person attendees are as optimally protected against COVID-19 as possible, in accordance with current CDC guidance. Our top priority is to create the safest possible meeting environment.

*If you are not eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine booster by May 23, 2022 because of limited access in your country of residence, time since your second vaccine dose, or a documented medical exemption, please contact sbrown@genetics-gsa.org with the subject line “#PEQG22 booster exception” to request an exception.

All CDC and WHO authorized vaccines are acceptable for meeting the vaccination requirement for the in-person conference. Approved vaccines include:

Janssen (Johnson & Johnson)
Moderna
Oxford/AstraZeneca
Pfizer/BioNTech
Serum Institute of India
Sinopharm
Sinovac

If you are unable to meet the vaccination requirement, we invite you to join as a virtual attendee and participate in the streaming, online, and on-demand programming. Please contact gsaconferences@genetics-gsa.org if you have any questions.

Testing Requirement

In-person attendees must provide proof of a negative test or recent recovery from COVID-19. In addition to proof of vaccination, all in-person attendees must provide proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of the conference start date, June 7, 2022. We do not recommend but will accept a negative rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours of arrival at Asilomar. Rapid tests must be performed at a pharmacy, healthcare provider, or under telehealth supervision.

Attendees who have recently recovered from COVID-19 may instead provide proof of a positive COVID-19 viral test result taken no more than 90 days prior to the conference start date AND a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or public health official verifying that the attendee is cleared to travel.

In-person attendees will be required to upload their negative test results or proof of recent recovery documentation to 42Chat by June 7, 2022 and prior to their arrival at Asilomar (Note that you will need to upload your proof of vaccination and proof of a negative test at the same time). Attendees will receive an invitation to upload their documentation in the coming weeks.

Please note: If you are unable to schedule an appointment for a COVID test or obtain results before travel, you may take an at-home test and upload a photo of the results along with a photo of your driver’s license or other government or school-issued ID. This test should be taken within 24 hours of your arrival at the conference site.

Upload Negative Test Documents

Mask Requirement

GSA will require all in-person meeting attendees to wear a mask while in the meeting space. Masks should fit snugly against the face and must completely cover the nose, mouth, and chin.

In accordance with CDC guidance, attendees should wear the most protective masks they can, ideally N95s or KN95s. Learn about the types of masks and their varying levels of protection on CDC’s website. GSA will have a limited supply of complimentary N95 and KN95 masks on site at the Registration Desk in Merrill Hall for attendees who need a high-quality mask.

Onsite testing

Onsite PCR testing will be available for a fee and by appointment for in-person attendees who need or want to be tested for COVID-19 (e.g., to comply with international travel regulations). We encourage attendees to bring rapid antigen test kits for self-testing during the conference. GSA will have a limited supply of complimentary rapid antigen tests for attendees who feel unwell or experience symptoms while onsite; rapid tests will be delivered to the attendee’s room on request to minimize contact. Contact gsaconferences@genetics-gsa.org to request a rapid test.

A health care professional from ARCPoint Labs of Monterey Bay will be at Asilomar to administer antigen and PCR tests to those who have made an appointment.

Testing Hours (Dolphin Room)
Tuesday, June 7 – 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 8 – 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 9 – 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Friday, June 10 – 12:00-2:00 p.m.

Schedule Onsite Testing

Additional Safety Information

We are continuing to monitor and evaluate the outlook for in-person events and will share updates via this webpage and conference emails. As we get closer to our event dates, we will post more information about what you can expect onsite. GSA may implement other safety measures as needed. GSA will meet or exceed all federal, state, and local government and venue requirements for masks, social distancing, and other measures.

Please do not travel to or attend the conference if you are sick, have been exposed to anyone with a documented or suspected case of COVID-19 within 10 days, or exhibit any symptoms of COVID-19.

Change Participation Type

If you registered to attend the meeting in person but you no longer feel comfortable or are unable to attend, you may change your registration to virtual attendance. There is no fee to change your registration from in-person to online attendance or vice versa. To make this change, please notify gsaconferences@genetics-gsa.org. You can request this change at any time. However, so that we may plan accordingly, we would appreciate changes to be requested no later than April 1, 2022. GSA will issue a refund for the price difference between in-person registration and virtual registration at the time of your change request. Alternatively, you may choose to donate your refund to help fund registration for participants from low- and middle-income countries. If you have been selected for an oral or poster presentation, please contact GSA Conferences (gsaconferences@genetics-gsa.org) to discuss virtual presentation options.

If you registered for virtual attendance but would like to attend the meeting in person, you may change your registration to in-person attendance. To make this change, please notify gsaconferences@genetics-gsa.org. You can request this change at any time. However, so that we may plan accordingly, we would appreciate changes to be requested no later than April 1, 2022. You will be charged the price difference between virtual registration and in-person registration at the time of your change request. If you have been selected for an oral or poster presentation, please contact GSA Conferences (gsaconferences@genetics-gsa.org) to discuss in-person presentation.

Cancellation & Refunds

Conference Registration Cancellations

We understand that making plans during a pandemic is challenging. Conference registration cancellation requests received by April 1, 2022 are fully refundable and will not incur a cancellation fee. All conference registration cancellations received between April 2, 2022 and April 30, 2022 will incur a $50 cancellation fee. Registration cancellations received on May 1, 2022 or later will not be eligible for a refund. There is no fee to change your registration from in-person to virtual attendance or vice-versa. We request that registration change requests be made by April 1, 2022.

(Canceling your meeting registration does not cancel your hotel or other travel plans. Please see below for additional information.)

Conference Registration Refunds

To receive a refund, please submit your cancellation request to gsaconferences@genetics-gsa.org with the word “Refund” in the subject line by April 30, 2022. If you cancel your registration after April 30, 2022, you will not be eligible to receive a refund. For questions, please contact gsaconferences@genetics-gsa.org.

Cancellation requests received:

by April 1, 2022: Full refund
between April 2, 2022 and April 30, 2022: Refund minus a $50 cancellation fee
after April 30, 2022: No refund

There is no fee to change your registration from in-person to online attendance or vice versa. Please note that GSA Conferences (gsaconferences@genetics-gsa.org) must receive registration change requests no later than April 1, 2022.

Hotel Cancellation

If you need to cancel your hotel reservation, you can do so directly with the hotel.

Airline and Train Cancellations

Many airlines and rail carriers have adjusted their cancellation policies. We highly encourage you to check directly with your carrier for additional information.

Presentation Cancellation

If you are scheduled to present in an oral or poster session, please contact Suzy Brown (sbrown@genetics-gsa.org) with the subject “Presenter Cancellation” in addition to sending in your cancellation notice.

In-Person Meeting Cancellation

GSA is continuing to monitor the outlook for in-person events and will share updates as they are available. In the unlikely event that GSA must cancel the in-person meeting, all in-person registrants will automatically be converted to virtual attendance. GSA is not liable for any costs incurred by participants due to the cancellation of an in-person event. Participants are strongly encouraged to purchase travel insurance.

Code of Conduct

This Code of Conduct covers in-person conferences, online conferences, and other online events hosted by GSA. GSA conferences include keynote presentations, concurrent sessions, live poster Q&A, workshops, conference-related Slack channels, and Q&A via Zoom chat.

The Genetics Society of America Conferences foster an international community of geneticists and provide an opportunity to discuss scientific advances and form new collaborations.

GSA values your attendance and wants to make your experience productive and inspiring by fostering an open exchange of ideas in a professional setting. Our Code of Conduct was established to communicate a transparent set of standards and guidelines for acceptable behavior at GSA Conferences and to provide a positive, safe, and welcoming environment for all attendees, vendors, volunteers, and staff.

All conference participants (regardless of their role) are expected to follow the Code of Conduct while attending any portion of the conference, including but not limited to keynote presentations, concurrent sessions, live poster Q&A sessions, workshops, and all conference Slack channels. Because there is also a virtual nature to the conference, our Code of Conduct extends to communications related to the meeting and its attendees, presenters, exhibitors, sponsors, staff, and vendors. These types of communications include Zoom chat, Zoom Q&A window, live poster Q&A, Slack, email, social media, and texts.

Unacceptable Behaviors

Unacceptable behaviors include, but are not limited to:

Intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory, or demeaning speech or actions by any participant and at all related events
Harmful or prejudicial verbal or written comments or visual images related to gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, race, religion, political orientation, socioeconomic, disability or ability status, or other personal characteristics, including those protected by law
Inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images (including presentation slides, posters, Slack channels, or Zoom chat)
Deliberate intimidation or stalking
Violating the rules and regulations of the online provider, Zoom
Sustained disruption of scientific sessions or other events
Unwelcome and uninvited attention or contact
Real or implied threat of physical harm
Real or implied threat of professional or financial damage or harm
Photographing or reproducing slides of oral presentations and posters without permission
Recording of scientific and other sessions without permission

Taking action or making a report

Need to file a complaint? For instructions on how to confidentially report a Code of Conduct violation, please visit genetics-gsa.ethicspoint.com. In addition, GSA staff is available to assist participants in contacting our Ethics Committee to make a report. Please email Tracey DePellegrin, GSA Executive Director, at tracey.depellegrin@genetics-gsa.org.

Consequences of non-compliance

Anyone asked by GSA staff, Organizer, Session Chair, Workshop Leader, Moderator, Presenter, or Zoom representative to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately. Retaliation toward GSA or toward someone reporting an incident or after experiencing any of the following consequences will not be tolerated and may result in additional sanctions.

The consequences of non-compliance with GSA’s Code of Conduct may include:

Immediate removal from in-person meeting
Immediate removal from accessing the online meeting
Immediate removal from Slack channels and meeting app without warning
Restrictions from future GSA meeting attendance
Termination of GSA membership or positions on GSA Boards or Committees
Incidents may be reported to the proper authorities

Diversity and Inclusion

GSA is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion to create greater opportunity for any individual to fulfill their scientific potential, irrespective of their background, gender, or circumstances. This diversity leads to innovation by attracting the widest possible talent to the community and fostering a greater diversity of ideas, approaches, and perspectives. The Organizing Committee aims to select speakers and session chairs that represent the breadth and diversity of the discipline and conference participants. GSA especially encourages the Committee to select excellent speakers from groups traditionally underrepresented in science.

Social Media/Photo/Video Policy

Attendees are permitted to live tweet during presentations, unless the speaker explicitly opts out by stating so at the start of their talk. Taking or sharing photos, videos, or reproductions of posters is not permitted unless you have the presenter’s consent. By attending a GSA conference, you grant GSA the right to use your name and likeness for use in GSA educational, news, or promotional materials. All keynote, award, plenary, and platform sessions will be recorded and available for on-demand viewing for a limited time to registered attendees.

Posters

When you view poster materials at the conference, whether in person or via the Conference App, remember that posters are typically works in progress. Please do not cite or reproduce any part of posters without the presenter’s permission.

COVID-19 FAQs

Will the Population, Evolutionary, and Quantitative Genetics Conference be held in person as well as online?

Yes, the Population, Evolutionary, and Quantitative Genetics Conference is officially continuing as planned as an in-person and virtual conference, as decided by the GSA Executive Committee.

To help minimize risks and promote a safe environment at the in-person conference, some policies have been adapted or added to reflect current best practices:

In-person attendees will be required to be fully vaccinated and boosted (if eligible) against COVID-19. (The previous policy did not mandate a booster.)
In-person attendees must provide proof of a negative PCR test or recent recovery from COVID-19.
In-person attendees will be required to wear a mask in all meeting spaces. GSA will have a limited supply of complimentary N95 and KN95 masks onsite.

Are attendees required to be vaccinated against COVID-19?

Yes, all in-person attendees must be fully vaccinated, including a booster for those who are eligible*, at least 14 days prior to the start of the meeting on June 7, 2022. After carefully considering recent data and the impact of the Omicron variant, GSA revised its vaccination mandate to include a booster. We have adopted this policy to ensure that in-person attendees are as optimally protected against COVID-19 as possible, in accordance with current CDC guidance. You will be asked for proof of vaccination. If you are unable to meet the vaccination requirement, we invite you to join as a virtual attendee and participate in the streaming, online, and on-demand programming.

Please check our Conference Policies to learn more.

Will in-person attendees also need to provide proof of a COVID-19 booster shot to attend in person?

Yes. After carefully considering recent data and the impact of the Omicron variant, GSA revised its vaccination mandate to include a booster, with limited exceptions*. We have adopted this policy to ensure that in-person attendees are as optimally protected against COVID-19 as possible. If you are registered as an in-person attendee and have not yet received a booster, you must receive a booster no later than May 23, 2022. If you cannot meet the vaccination mandate, you may change your registration type to virtual attendance.

How are you validating vaccination status for in-person attendees?

In-person attendees will be required to upload their proof of vaccination to 42Chat by June 7, 2022 and prior to entering the meeting space. (You will be asked to provide documents showing your proof of vaccination and proof of a negative test or recovery from COVID-19 at the same time.) Proof of vaccination is your CDC COVID-19 vaccination card (photo is acceptable) from the healthcare provider, which you received when you were vaccinated.

Information on how to upload vaccination and negative test documents will be available on this webpage and via emails to attendees in 2-3 weeks prior to the meeting.

What if I am not eligible or do not have access to a booster by May 23?

If you are not eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine booster by May 23, 2022 because of limited access in your country of residence, time since your second vaccine dose, or a documented medical exemption, please contact sbrown@genetics-gsa.org with the subject line “#PEQG22 booster exception” to request an exception. Alternatively, you may register as a virtual attendee, or, if you had previously registered to attend #PEQG22 in person, you may change your registration type to virtual attendance and will receive a refund for the difference in price.

Will proof of a negative COVID-19 test or proof of previous COVID-19 infection and recovery be accepted in place of proof of vaccination?

Will exceptions to the COVID-19 vaccine requirement be accepted?

GSA cannot accommodate exceptions to the vaccination requirement, except for those who are not eligible for a booster.* If you are unable to meet the vaccination requirement, we invite you to join as a virtual attendee and participate in the streaming, online, and on-demand programming.

Can I bring unvaccinated children to the in-person meeting?

I’m not sure if I want to attend in-person. Will I be able to register onsite?

I’m not scheduled for my second COVID-19 vaccination until after the conference. Can I still attend?

Are in-person attendees required to get tested for COVID-19?

Yes. All in-person attendees must provide proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours prior to the conference start date, june 7, 2022. We do not recommend but will accept a negative rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours of June 7, 2022. Rapid tests must be performed at a pharmacy, healthcare provider, or under telehealth supervision.

In-person attendees who have recently recovered from COVID-19 may instead provide proof of a positive COVID-19 viral test result taken no more than 90 days prior to the conference start date on June 7, 2022 AND a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or public health official verifying that the attendee is cleared to travel. Please note that proof of recovery from COVID-19 does not exempt in-person attendees from the vaccination requirement.

Do I still need to provide a negative test if I was previously infected with and recovered from COVID-19?

In-person attendees who have recently recovered from COVID-19 may provide proof of recovery in the form of a positive viral test. Positive tests must have been taken no more than 90 days prior to the conference start date, june 7, 2022. In addition to their positive test results, attendees are also required to submit a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or public health official verifying that they are cleared to travel.

What if I am unable to get a PCR test within 72 hours of arrival?

How are you validating COVID-19 test results for in-person attendees?

In-person attendees will be required to upload their negative test results or proof of recovery documentation to 42Chat by June 7, 2022 (note that you will be asked to upload your document showing proof of vaccination at the same time). You will scan the QR code that will be provided to attendees on this webpage and via email in the coming weeks (note there will be two QR codes—one for US attendees and one for international attendees). You will receive verification from 42Chat via text once you have uploaded your proof of vaccination and negative test or recovery from COVID-19.

What should I do if my pre-conference test is positive for COVID-19?

Unfortunately, if you have registered as an in-person attendee and test positive within 72 hours of the meeting start date on June 7, 2022, you will not be able to attend the meeting in person. You may change your registration type to virtual attendance, which will provide access to streamed sessions, presentation opportunities, and networking events. You will receive a refund for the price difference between in-person and virtual registration.

If you would not like to attend virtually, you may cancel your registration.

Will masks be required at the in-person meeting?

Yes, GSA will require all in-person meeting attendees to wear a mask while in the meeting space. Masks should fit snugly against the face and must completely cover the nose, mouth, and chin.

In accordance with CDC guidance, attendees should wear the most protective masks they can, ideally N95s or KN95s. If you do not have access to a high-quality mask, GSA will have a limited supply of complimentary N95 and KN95 masks on site at the Registration Desk in Merrill Hall.

Where can I get a mask on site?

What health and safety protocols is Asilomar following?

When should I book my transportation?

Where can I get a COVID-19 test for my flight home?

What if I experience symptoms and/or test positive while at #PEQG22?

While GSA has taken steps to create the safest possible in-person meeting environment, COVID-19 can be contracted anywhere at any time. If you experience any symptoms before picking up your conference materials or develop symptoms at any time while on site, please remain in your room and notify Asilomar Guest Services at 831-241-1158 and gsaconferences@genetics-gsa.org to request a rapid test, which will be delivered to your room. Do not enter the conference space.

If your test is positive, remain in your room and notify gsaconferences@genetics-gsa.org and Asilomar Guest Services immediately at 831-241-1158 of your positive result. If you are feeling severely ill (such as having trouble breathing), Asilomar Guest Services can arrange transportation for you to a local hospital for emergency medical care.

If you are sharing your room with others, an Asilomar attendant will arrange a new single room for you; please wait in your current room for a new room key to be delivered to you. While en route to your new room and whenever you must be in contact with others, please wear a well-fitting, high-quality mask. GSA has a supply of N95 and KN95 masks onsite; if you require one, contact sbrown@genetics-gsa.org. Once you are in your new room, please follow CDC’s guidelines for isolation and how to determine your isolation time.

Contact Asilomar Guest Services to have meals delivered to your room.

What should I do if I have contact with an attendee who tests positive while at the meeting?

For the safety of your fellow attendees, please remain in your room if you begin to feel symptoms and contact Asilomar Guest Services at 831-241-1158 and gsaconferences@genetics-gsa.org to request a rapid test, which will be delivered to your room. Notify sbrown@genetics-gsa.org if you receive a positive test result for further guidance.

If you do not experience symptoms, you may enter the meeting space. Please continue to wear a well-fitting, high-quality mask (complimentary N95 and KN95 masks will be available on site), socially distance when possible, and complete a self-assessment daily while using CDC’s COVID-19 Self-Checker.

What should I do if my roommate tests positive while at the meeting?

If your roommate tests positive while at the meeting, an Asilomar attendant will arrange for them to move to another room. Your room will be cleaned by Asilomar staff.

As long as you do not experience symptoms, you may enter the meeting space. Please continue to wear a well-fitting, high-quality mask (complimentary N95 and KN95 masks are available on site, if needed), socially distance when possible, and complete a self-assessment daily while using CDC’s COVID-19 Self-Checker.

If you begin to experience symptoms, please remain in your room for the safety of your fellow attendees. Contact Asilomar Guest Services immediately at 831-241-1158 and gsaconferences@genetics-gsa.org to request a rapid test, which will be delivered to your room. Notify sbrown@genetics-gsa.org if you receive a positive test result for further guidance.

What will I need to show on site to enter the meeting?

Attendee FAQs

What if I registered as an in-person attendee, but I can no longer attend in person?

After I register, can I change my registration from in-person to virtual or vice versa?

Can I cancel my registration?

Conference registration cancellation requests received by April 1, 2022 are fully refundable and will not incur a cancellation fee. All conference registration cancellations received between April 2, 2022 and April 30, 2022 will incur a $50 cancellation fee. Registration cancellations received on May 1, 2022 or later will not be eligible for a refund.

There is no fee to change your registration from in-person to virtual attendance or vice-versa. We request that registration change requests be made by April 1, 2022.

Can I ask oral presenters questions, and will they be answered live?

Yes, you will be able to submit your question in real time through Zoom. It is up to the session chair to select questions to ask the presenter, so yours may not be included in the limited amount of time available for live Q&A. You can also submit a question to the presenter through the Conference App to be answered later. The presenter will be notified of the question and may answer it as he/she/they are available (Please note that we cannot guarantee that a presenter will answer your question). Recordings will also include questions that were asked during the live session.

You can also ask questions in the Conference App. Questions and answers in the App can be moderated, published for all to see, or kept private.

How can I ask poster presenters questions?

Poster presenters will be asked to upload a PDF of their posters and record an audio overview, which will be available in the Conference App. You will be able to ask a question of the poster presenters in the App using the Discussion tool. In addition, we are encouraging poster presenters to include a link to their preferred calendar scheduling tool (Calendly, Google Meet, etc.) so that attendees can set up appointments for virtual poster discussions.

How can I attend workshops?

Where do I pick up a Program/Abstract Book?

Can I share my Conference App log-in information with others if I cannot attend an event?

What will I miss if I am not there in person?

One advantage of attending any in-person meeting is the ability to spontaneously connect with others, including those who are job hunting, hiring, looking for collaborations in your same field of research, etc. However, we realize that it may not be possible for some to attend in person due to travel restrictions, financial limitations, family responsibilities, or other circumstances. Select oral sessions will be streamed live and recorded for on-demand viewing. Virtual attendees will also be able to participate in all online professional development events and networking events.