25-27 May 2022
09:00 h.
Dear Colleagues,
On behalf of the Organizing Committee I would like to cordially invite you to attend the International Conference on DNA Barcoding and Biodiversity (ICDBB), which will be held on 25-27 May 2022 in Park Hotel Moskva, Sofia, Bulgaria as a hybrid event (both face-to-face and online). The conference is organized by the Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, as part of the BULCode project supported by the National Program “European Scientific Networks”, Ministry of Education and Science of Bulgaria.
The aim of ICDBB is to contribute to the project’s overall goal to promote biodiversity studies through DNA barcoding technologies and to strengthen the networking capacity in this field of research in Bulgaria. The conference will address various fields of application of DNA barcoding and metabarcoding, as well as other DNA-based molecular approaches under the following main topics:
The 3-day event will bring together recognized experts engaged in biodiversity and taxonomic studies and implementing DNA marker technologies, including DNA barcoding and metabarcoding, in their research. Examples of successful national DNA barcoding initiatives will also be presented.
Internationally renowned keynote lecturers will share their knowledge and experience with you.
ICDBB 2022 will be held in Sofia, Bulgaria, one of the most ancient European capitals, where the old traditions are harmoniously merged with modern European trends. You will enjoy a friendly opening ceremony, a warm welcome reception and a memorable closing dinner. You will certainly take back home some unforgettable memories of your stay!
We hope that ICDBB will become a community-building event and an opportunity for greater integration into our rich and diverse field of scholars of all ages.
We are looking forward to welcoming you in Sofia in 2022!
Sincerely yours,
Assist. Prof. Georgi Bonchev
Chairman of the Organizing Committee
The event will be open to all contributing authors with no registration fee. Participants are required to send their abstract first according to the requirements specified in the Abstract submission section below.
Authors with approved abstracts can register from 1 April 2022 when the registration period opens until 20 April 2022. The online form will be available by pressing the REGISTER button. You can choose the type of participation (in-person or virtually), make a hotel reservation or choose social and tourist events. Online payment by credit card is accepted.
On-site participation in the conference includes: access to scientific and poster sessions, publication in the Book of abstracts, coffee breaks, lunches, welcome cocktail, delegate’s kit, program and abstract book, e-certificate, access to all presentations recorded at the conference.
Registered online participants will get online access to the conference, publication in the Book of abstracts, E-Book of abstracts, access to E-posters, E-certificate, access to all presentations recorded at the conference.
The conference participation does not cover personal costs related to travel, accommodation and insurance.
The conference fee for accompanying persons (spouses, family members) is 120 Euro and includes welcome cocktail, lunches and Sofia city tour on 26 May.
Confirmation letter
You will receive a confirmation letter of your participation within a few days of your registration.
Cancellation policy
Notifications of cancellations must be sent by email to Mrs. Mira Bonova /mira@cmebg.com/ by 1 May 2022.
Registration desk
Upon arrival in Park Hotel Moskva, participants are kindly requested to visit the Registration Desk located in front of Europe Hall. Registration Desk will operate throughout the Conference.
Abstracts for either oral or poster presentation are welcome. Abstracts (.doc or .docx) should be submitted via email by 1 March 2022 to icdbb2022@gmail.com.
Guidelines for Abstract preparation
The abstract must be written in English and should not exceed 300 words including the text and acknowledgements (if any), and excluding the references. All four page margins must be set at 20 mm width.
Submitted abstracts must include:
*Please provide the following information after your abstract:
1) Indicate the preferred type of presentation: oral or poster presentation
Format:
2) Indicate preferred topic (if submitting abstract for an oral presentation):
Preferred topic:
Submission details
Files and figures should be named with the presenting author’s name only and the type of its content.
Abstracts that are not properly prepared (according to the abstract preparation guidelines) will be returned to the authors for revision.
Each author can submit a maximum of 2 presentations (oral or poster). Co-authorship, however, is not affected by this limit.
Authors will be notified via email about the outcome of the review process by 21 March 2022 with an acceptance/rejection letter. The authors of all accepted abstracts (in the case of multiple authors, the author designated as the presenting author) must register to be included in the final conference program. Online registration will start on 1 April 2022 and close on 20 April 2022. Oral and poster presentations that do not meet this requirement, will be removed from the program.
After the submission deadline, abstracts cannot be corrected or modified.
Key dates:
Abstract submission opens 10 January 2022
Abstract submission closes 1 March 2022
Registration opens 1 April 2022
Registration closes 20 April 2022
Full meeting schedule announced 25 April 2022
GETTING THERE
Getting to Sofia
By plane
Sofia airport is located 10 km from the centre of Sofia city. It has two terminals. Terminal 1 serves mainly low-cost and charter airlines. Terminal 2 is significantly bigger and currently serves many companies and Ryanair flights as well. There is a white free shuttle bus running every 30 minutes between the two terminals. There are a few kilometres between the two terminals and they are not in a walking distance. Public bus line 84 travels to both terminals. Allow 30 to 40 minutes to reach the city centre depending on traffic.
Getting to the hotel
Park Hotel Moskva is located 12 kilometers away from Sofia International Airport. The hotel can easily be reached by using the underground (Joliot-Curie station). The Metro No 4 Yellow Line travels from/to Terminal 2. The trains run every day between 5:30 and 24:00 and take around 20 minutes to Park Hotel Moskva and 30 minutes to Sofia University Station. From this station Crystal Palace Hotel is reachable on foot. Make sure you check carefully the terminal that you are arriving at or departing from.
The metro operates with separate tickets that are not valid for other modes of public transportation. Tickets are only sold at the metro stations at cash-only ticket machines or at manned ticket booths (again cash-only). The cost of this transportation is 1.60 Lev. The tickets are only valid up to 30 min after purchase.
A taxi from the Sofia airport can be ordered as well. There is only one company that is allowed to service the airport (OK Supertrans). We recommend that you do not use taxi services offered outside the office of the taxi operator or in front of the terminal to avoid overcharge.
ORGANIZED TRANSFERS
Participants can order individual transfers from Sofia airport (bus/railway station) to their hotel or v.v. to CME Ltd. The price per person for one direction is 25 Euro. On arrival at Sofia airport, a member of the organising team with a sign with conference name will welcome participants. The organising team will take care of all transfer arrangements from the airport (bus/railway station) to the hotel. On arrival and during the first day of the event, delegates will be asked to confirm their departure times. Transportation will be organised from the hotel to the airport (bus/railway station) for those guests who have booked and paid the transfer individually.
Transfer(s) can be booked through the online registration form.
HOW CAN I TRAVEL WHILE STAYING HEALTHY?
Re-open EU platform (or the App) provides information on the various national restrictions in place, including on quarantine and testing requirements for travellers and mobile contact tracing and warning apps across Europe. The information is updated frequently and available in 24 languages. This should help you plan your travel in Europe, while staying safe and healthy.
PASSPORTS & VISAS
Bulgaria has the European Union’s Common Visa Policy as a member country accepting European citizens freely. All non-EU citizens are required to have a passport to enter the EU with the appropriate visas. Conference attendees are personally responsible for making their own visa arrangements. You can find out more about visas at https://www.mfa.bg/en/services-travel/consular-services/travel-bulgaria/visa-bulgaria.
However, if you need an invitation letter, please send a mail to mira@cmebg.com.
MONETARY SYSTEM
The national currency is the Bulgarian Lev. Bank notes of the following denominations are in circulation: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 Levs. 1 Euro = 1,95583 BGN.
There are foreign exchange offices and ATMs everywhere in the city. It’s always prudent to carry a little cash, however, in case you can’t find an ATM or bank office nearby. You can always change cash at the hotel, though the commission will be higher.
Make sure you have enough of the national currency when you plan to visit local markets and shops.
TIPPING
When a gratuity is not included in your bill, which is usually the case, 10% is customary. If service is outstanding, you could go as high as 15%. With taxi drivers, you usually just round up the sum if you have been happy with the ride or for the sake of convenience.
CLIMATE
The climate in Bulgaria is moderate continental with beautiful blooming spring, dry and hot summer, long and pleasant autumn, and mild winter with lots of opportunity for skiing.
The weather at the end of May is warm and sunny with daily temperature of around 25 ºC, which is very pleasant both for work and leisure.
You may check current weather in Sofia HERE.
TIME
Summer time: GMT + 3 hrs. (April through October)
ELECTRICITY
220 Volts, 50 Hz
Bulgaria uses CEE 7/4 (German “Schuko”) power plugs and sockets.
Social Events
Welcome cocktail
City tour of Sofia
Conference dinner
Excursion to Plovdiv
Excursion to Rila Monastery