General Information

Registration and Opening Hours

Opening Hours Registration and Preview Centre

Opening Hours Exhibition

Badges

Participants should collect name badges from the conference registration desks. As only registered participants will be permitted to attend the scientific sessions, the exhibition and poster areas, you are required to wear your badge when entering and while remaining in the congress venue. Exhibitors will also receive badges to allow access to the appropriate areas. Lost badges can be replaced at the registration desk. However, a handling fee of EURO 50.- will be charged.

Cancellations and Refunds

Notice of cancellation must be made in writing by e-mail  to the Congress Office: conference@eshg.org
Registration fees may be refunded if written cancellation has been received as follows:

The date of the email/fax ID is the basis for considering refunds. Refunds will be made after the congress.

Certificate of Attendance

Certificates of attendance will be sent to all participants electronically after the conference.

Insurance

By registering to the ESHG 2020 participants agree that neither the organising committee nor the congress office assume any liability whatsoever. Participants are requested to make their own arrangements for health and travel insurance. The conference fee does not include insurance. Cancellations made after the deadline (May 25, 2020) cannot be refunded for any reasons.

Programme

Mobile App

The mobile app with full programme and other useful information will be available for download two weeks before the conference.

Speakers’ Preview

Equipment for a final check of the sequence of your presentation is available in the Speakers’ preview room. All presenters should bring their electronic presentation to the Speakers’ preview not later than 2 hours before the start of the session (30 minutes for the first morning sessions).

Poster Removal

The organisers cannot assume any liability for loss or damage of posters displayed in the poster area. Removal times for the different groups:
Groups A-C: Monday, June 8, 2020 until 17.00 hrs
Group D: Monday, June 8, 2020 between 17.00 – 17.30 hrs (strict!)
Posters that will not be removed by Monday, June 8, 2020, 17.30hrs, will be removed by the staff, will not be kept or mailed to the author after the meeting, but will be discarded.

Live Streaming in the Exhibition Hall

The plenary lecture hall is equipped with a live transmission possibility to the live streaming area in the exhibition. The programme of the plenary hall (Hall B) will be transmitted to this area during exhibition opening hours.

Coffee Breaks

During the session breaks, refreshments (coffee, tea and water) will be served free of charge to participants wearing name badges. Coffee and lunch bags will be served in the exhibition area.

Lunch and Refreshments

Lunch tickets for lunch bags have to be pre-ordered – they cannot be purchased on site. Please note that lunch tickets are not refundable. Lunch bags can be picked up from 12.00 – 14.00 hrs at the coffee points in the exhibition. A cash bar is also available in the exhibition area.

Venue

Conference Venue

Messe Berlin – CityCube
Messedamm 26
14055 Berlin
Germany

Travelling – Accessibility – Public Transportation

By Air

75 airlines are connecting Berlin’s two international airports (Berlin Tegel Airport and Berlin Schönefeld Airport) with 173 destinations in 50 countries. Both airports are easily accessible by taxi, car and public transport. While Berlin Tegel is in close proximity to the conference venue CityCube, Berlin Schönefeld offers direct light railway connections to most of the hotels in the city centre. Please see here for an overview map.

Arriving at Tegel Airport
Tegel Airport is very well integrated in Berlin’s local transport network thanks to various buses and express buses operated by BVG (Berlin Transport Services). The airport is in Zone B. Bus stops are located right outside Terminal A and B.
To get to CityCube directly, you need to take a bus (TXL, X9, 109 or 128) to one of the light railway stations and then continue with the light railway to the station S Messe Süd. Travel time is approximately 35-45 minutes. A taxi transfer takes about 20-30 minutes and costs approximately € 20,00 – € 30,00. Taxis are available 24h in front of all terminals.

Arriving at Schönefeld Airport
Schönefeld Airport has a railway station that provides excellent connections (regional and light railway) to Berlin’s centre and surrounding areas. The airport is located in fare zone C. The airport is just a five-minute walk from the railway station via a covered walkway.
To get to CityCube directly, take the light railways S9 (departing every 20 minutes) and get off at S Messe Süd. Travel time is approximately 60 minutes. A taxi transfer takes about 30-40 minutest and costs approximately € 50,00 – € 60,00.

By Train

To get to the CityCube direclty from Berlin Central Station (Berlin Hauptbahnhof), take the light railway (S-Bahn) S3 or S9 for 7 stops and get off at S Messe Süd. Travel time is approximately 15-20 minutes. Tickets can be purchased online or at any of the vending machines in the station. For more information on tickets, zone maps and route planners visit the BVB website.

By Car

GPS coordinates: 52.4992001°N / 13.27247°E

Our traffic guidance system takes you directly via the city motorway system to the intersection at “Autobahn Dreieck Funkturm”. At this junction, take the “Messedamm” exit. A total of 12,000 parking spaces are available on and around the grounds. Please see here for an overview map.

Be aware of the Environmental Zone:
The Environmental Zone is the area within the so-called S-Bahn ring, the light railway line encircling central Berlin. Vehicles may only enter this area if they display a valid sticker showing that their emissions do not exceed a specified level of fine particulates. Road signs clearly indicate where this Environmental Zone begins. Although the southern section of the city expressway, the Stadtautobahn, is within the S-Bahn ring, it is not classified as part of the Environmental Zone because it is also used to enable vehicles to drive around the restricted area. The City Cube is located outside the Environmental Zone. Visitors arriving by car via the motorway system and entering the Exhibition Grounds directly via the interchange marked “Messegelände/Messedamm” are outside the zone and do not therefore require a sticker.

Public Transport

Direct access to the conference venue from one of the world’s best public transport systems means that getting here is always quick and easy. There are taxi ranks, underground/light rail stations and bus stops next to the entrances fo the whole Messe Berlin grounds. Berlin’s public transport system will take you swiftly and in comfort to any destination.
The closest stop to CityCube is the light railway station (S-Bahn station) S Messe Süd just accross the street. The public transport system is operated by BVB (Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe) and offers an extensive network of metro lines, light railways lines, regional trains, express busses and night busses. Check out the ticket options that range from a single ticket to day tickets and even combined tourist city cards that give you access to Berlin’s numerous attractions.

For further information on timetables, maps, ticket prices and route planners, please visit the BVB website.

Cloakroom and Luggage

A cloakroom and luggage storage are available close to the registration area (Level 1).

WIFI

WiFi is available throughout the conference venue. Network ID: eshg2020, password: eshg2020

Staff

If you should have any questions, the congress staff (recognizable by a pink badge/lanyard) will be pleased to help you.

Conference Policy

Language

The official language of the congress will be English. No simultaneous translation will be provided.

Pictures

Please note that taking pictures during the sessions is allowed, unless indicated otherwise by the presenter or the poster author. Persons who will not observe this rule will be excluded from the session by the chairpersons.

Smoking Policy

The ESHG 2020 is officially a “No-smoking-Conference”. Note that smoking is banned in public buildings and private businesses – including restaurants, pubs, shops, public transport, entertainment venues and workplaces.

Social Media Guidelines

Please see our full policy here.
The ESHG supports the use of social media around the European Human Genetics Conference to network with your colleagues and friends attending the meeting. Please do however respect the ESHG social media guidelines.
The views and opinions posted on ESHG’s social media do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of the ESHG, its Board or membership. The ESHG reserves the right to remove comments it deems to be inappropriate.

Milan – General Information

Bank services – Money matters

Banks are generally open from Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and an hour and a half in the afternoon between 2:30 and 4:40 (closed on Saturdays and Sundays). Some branches are open from 9.00-12.00 hrs on Saturdays. There are multiple bank machines (ATMs) open 24 hours a day throughout the city which accept all major international bankcards. The official currency of Italy is the Euro (€). Major credit cards are widely accepted, but please always check beforehand.

Currency

The official currency in Italy is the Euro (€).

V.A.T.

The VAT rate in Italy is 21%. From this year on, the ESHG charges VAT on the registration fees. All stated prices charged by the ESHG include VAT.

Emergency Services

European Emergency Number: 112

Pharmacies – Medical Emergencies

Most pharmacies are open during normal trading hours, a rotational service is in place. The following pharmacies are open 24/7: Farmacia della Stazione (Stazione Centrale -Piazza Duca D’Aosta, Phone:+39 02 63470362); Farmacia Stazione Porta Genova (Porta Genova – Piazzale Stazione Genova 5, Phone:+39 02 58101634).

Safety – Crime

Milan is a relatively safe, secure city. However, use of common sense is (always) required, as in any large city. Experience has shown that some basic precautionary measures should always be kept in mind in any city:
– Do not carry important items like flight tickets, passports etc. with you when visiting the conference or strolling through the city, leave them in the hotel safe during your stay. Rather carry a Xerox copy of your passport or an identity card with you.
– Try not to carry all documents, money, credit cards and other essential items and valuables in one bag or purse. If it is lost or stolen, everything will be gone and might be difficult to replace on short notice, especially passports and visa to return to your country of residence.
– Take off your name badge when leaving the conference centre.
– In heavily frequented tourist zones and the metro at rush hour, be aware of attemps of scam and pickpocketing.
– Do not respond to anybody unknown to you who comes up to you on the street engaging you in a conversation, no matter how safe they appear to be.
Further advice can be found here

Telephone calls

The country code of Italy is 39 and the area code for Milan is 02. If calling a number in Milan from within Italy (including Milan!), dial 02 before the subscriber number.

GSM Cell Phone Roaming

Roaming charges within the European Union have officially been abolished.The EU “roam like at home” rules mean that when you use your mobile phone while travelling outside your home country in any EU country you don’t have to pay any additional roaming charges. You benefit from these rules when calling (to mobile and fixed phones), sending text messages (SMS) and using data services while abroad. Further information can be found here.

Time Zone

Italy’s time zone is Central European Time (CET) – GMT +2 hours.

Climate

The weather is generally nice (average 20°C, high: 26°C, average low: 13°C) im Milan in June. Please make sure to protect yourself from possible sunburns. Milan has an average rainfall of 93 mm over 12 days in June.

Drinking water

The tap water in Milan can be used without concern.

Electricity Supply

220-240 V – 50Hz AC, using  CEI 23-50, CEI 23-5, some (older) sockets will not accept CEE 7/7 plugs, however in modern installations multiple standard sockets have been used.

Taxis

Taxis in Milan are not exactly cheap, as in most Italian cities. Fares are at a fixed price of EUR 3,20 per pick-up on weekdays plus EUR 1.06 per kilometre, 5,20 on Sunday, 6,20 after 21.00 hrs and on public holidays. The meter should only be started as you set off. Round up the tip to the nearest euro. Taxis cannot be hailed in the street. There are ranks (a white sign marked with a black ‘TAXI’) at Piazza del Duomo, Teatro La Scala and Castello Sforzesco, outside all airport terminals and at the train stations. Most taxi drivers speak a little English and are usually only too happy to make recommendations of sights, shops and restaurants. If you speak to them in Italian, they will rapidly become your new best friend.
Avoid bogus taxi drivers at the airports; they often over-charge by as much as 600 percent. Always go to the ranks outside the terminals. Licensed and metered taxis are white with yellow and black signs on top.

Shops

Most shops are open from 9.30-12.30 and 15.30-19.30 hrs, from Tuesday to Sunday. Bigger (and department) stores stay open all day. Most shops close on Sunday and re-open on Monday afternoon from about 15.30-19.30, except food stores, which re-open on Monday morning but close again for the afternoon. All major credit cards are generally accepted, but it is not possible to pay with foreign banknotes.

Eating Out in Milan

Like in every city heavily frequented by tourists, having an excellent meal for a fair price is just as easily possible, as getting mediocre food for not so little money, depending on the choice of location.

A guide to eating in Milan:
http://www.cntraveller.com/guides/europe/italy/milan/where-to-eat
http://www.hostelworld.com/guides/city-guides/milan/italy/eating-out
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/milan/restaurants
Please note that these websites should serve as indication only. The ESHG is not endorsing any of the stated opinions or listed restaurants.

Tipping

Tipping is quite flexible in Milan as the ‘coperto’ (cover charge)/service charge is automatically added in the bill. However, if you are happy with the service then tipping the staff is acceptable.Taxi drivers, theatre and cinema usherettes, luggage handlers are also given a token amount as a tip for their services, but you are not compelled to do so.

Tourist Information Centres

The exact address and opening hours of the tourist offices in Milan can be found here.
Website of the Milan Tourism: http://www.tourism.milan.it