19th Annual International Biocuration Conference
About Conference
The 19th Annual International Biocuration Conference provides a forum for curators, developers, and users of clinical and life sciences data, knowledge, and models to discuss their work, promote collaboration, and foster the community around this active and growing area of research. Participants from academia, government, and industry interested in the tools, methodology, and philosophy of curation in the clinical and life sciences are encouraged to attend and submit an abstract for consideration for an oral or poster presentation. This conference is organised in part with the International Society of Biocuration (ISB). The conference accommodates both in-person and online participation, and will provide a number of workshops and plenary sessions as part of the scientific programme.
About Biocuration
Biocuration involves the translation and integration of information relevant to biology into a database or resource that enables integration of the scientific literature as well as large data sets. Accurate and comprehensive representation of biological knowledge, as well as easy access to this data for working scientists and a basis for computational analysis, are primary goals of biocuration.
The goals of biocuration are achieved thanks to the convergent endeavors of biocurators, software developers and researchers in bioinformatics. Biocurators provide essential resources to the biological community such that databases have become an integral part of the tools researchers use on a daily basis for their work.
About ISB
The International Society for Biocuration (ISB) is a non profit organization for biocurators, developers, and researchers with an interest in biocuration. The society promotes the field of biocuration and provides a forum for information exchange through meeting and workshops. Discover more information here.
Conference Venue
Accommodation
Numerous accommodation options are available for conference attendees, ranging in price and distance from the conference venue. These are listed below (along with booking codes for select options we have arranged with)
- Lagoon Beach Hotel Conference Centre and Spa (Conference venue), a beachfront hotel in Milnerton, offering panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, Table Mountain and the Cape Town skyline.
- StayEasy Century City Hotel (about 10-15 minutes, ~7km, by car from the conference venue), ideally located near the Bloubergstrand beach, making it suitable for both leisure and business trips.
- Protea Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Mowbray, situated in the leafy southern suburbs of Cape town (about 15 minutes, ~7km, by car from the conference venue), combines historic charm with modern comfort.
Passports and Visas
Passport requirement
Every participant travelling to South Africa must be in possession of a passport that:
- Will still be valid for at least 6 months after the departure date.
- Have at least two unused pages for endorsements.
Visa requirements
In order to visit South Africa, international travellers who have permanent residence outside the country need a valid visa to enter. Visas can be issued for both tourism and business purposes and are valid for a time period of 90 days.
The visa can be obtained either through a South African diplomatic representative or a travel agent and indicates that a South African embassy or consulate declared that the applicant is eligible to enter the country for a specific purpose.
Requirements for visitor’s visas differ from country to country and are subject to change, so please check the appropriate requirements with your local South African representative. Some countries are exempt from visas, and thus citizens from those nations don’t require one in order to enter South Africa. A list of all countries that do not currently require a visa can be found at the South African Government website:
https://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/exempt-countries
For any further requirements regarding a South African visa, please check the following link:
https://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/apply-for-a-south-african-visa