1 July
This year’s International Biometric Conference marks the 31st IBC, and it is one that is entirely different from what we are used to. Our ability to provide you, our members and participants, with some really useful sessions as part of this IBC, remains our primary goal. Rather than a week-long line-up of sessions, we hope that you will make plans to join us over the next 60 days for some valuable and also quite memorable content. To start your 2020 IBC conference, register now.
7 June
Dear Colleagues,
As you know, IBC2020 cannot proceed as planned this coming July due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. It is such a shame, especially since the Korean Region had been working so hard to arrange a welcoming and exciting conference for us all.
We have spent quite some time thinking through options and have decided that even postponing until 2021 could be problematic, since it is not at all clear when global travel will return to normal. Also, we know there are many options for other meetings next year including the various regional meetings that are usually held in the IBC off-year. Indeed, the Korean Region are looking to run a small conference that incorporates some of the planned elements from IBC2020. Please stay tuned!
But the good news is that we are actively planning to offer some of the planned IBC2020 options virtually. We will be in touch with more detail in a week or so. Because of the time differences among us all, we plan to deliver our virtual IBC offerings over a number of weeks and will be picking a few time slots so as to make it feasible for everyone to join.
We will be asking a modest fee to participate in the virtual IBC2020, though there will be options for waived and reduced fees for members.
Our top priority is to provide you, our members, with some useful sessions. But if you are in a position to pay the fee (e.g. if your university or organization will cover it for you), we will be very grateful since this will help offset some of the significant losses IBS has incurred due to the in-person conference being cancelled. We look forward to seeing you online soon and in person before too much longer!
Sincerely,
Louise Ryan
IBC2020 Organizing President
14 May, 2020
The IBS International Biometric Office remains open and ready to serve you during normal Eastern timezone business hours.
Professionals in many areas of the world continue to have their activities limited or severely curtailed by COVID-19 and related restrictions, and in-person events of nearly every size are being postponed or cancelled. It is the same with the IBS and its Regions. At the same time, the Society and its partners are looking for new ways to deliver professional content to members, as well as the larger community. We encourage visitors to our new website to stay in touch, to join our e-mail list if you have not already, and to stay informed regarding some of the new educational and networking opportunities emerging (and others currently under development) as a result of this COVID-19 challenges. In the end, we will prevail. Stay safe and healthy, friends!
2 April, 2020
As in-person interactions become more difficult for all of us, we look forward to the day when our situation returns to normal. But in the meantime, we must continue to think about the future. The future of our neighborhoods, our networks, the Society, and our profession. The Society is happy to launch our new website as a way to help connect the IBS community in new ways, and pool some of what we know in a way that benefits the community at large. Look for more useful information and tools in the coming weeks and months that will help members to continue to learn and grow. And do consider getting involved in the brand new "IBS Members Community", available for free to all members, where you can share what is happening in your area, as well as biometrics topics that matter to you!
20 March, 2020
The Executive Board of the IBS has decided that the 2020 International Biometric Conference should not proceed as planned in July 2020, due to extensive travel restrictions being imposed by countries all over the world and the need to ensure the general welfare of everyone within our community. The health of our IBS community is our primary concern at this moment. We are actively discussing alternatives, including online offerings and in-person meeting options, most likely for July and August 2021. We will provide more information as soon as it is available. Stay safe and healthy!
For the full announcement, click here.
18 March, 2020
The International Biometric Society is monitoring daily developments associated with the spread of COVID-19 and its effects on IBS operations and the International Biometric Conference.
The IBS International Biometric Office remains open and is available to all members during normal working hours. Decisions regarding IBC 2020 in Seoul will be made soon. But above all, please stay informed and stay safe. We encourage you to check back on this site and watch our new member community for further announcements.