Role title: Member of Congress Committee
Accountable to: Congress Secretary (Chair of Congress Committee)
Term of office: Four years
The British Society for Immunology (BSI) is a dynamic membership organisation and learned society, with a mission to drive scientific discovery and make a positive impact on health. With over 4,700 members and a remit across academia, industry and healthcare in the UK and globally, we run many valuable initiatives, to connect our community, champion career development for our members and to catalyse change for the benefit of research, clinical delivery and public health.
Scope and purpose
The BSI Congress Committee is the British Society for Immunology’s committee charged with developing the scientific programme for Congress and providing input into other scientific meetings (national and international) relating to the activities of the Society. The membership of the Congress Committee is designed to be representative of the Society’s membership, including individuals from all career grades and immunology sectors. The voice of all Congress Committee members is equally valued in discussions. The Chair of Congress Committee reports to the Board of Trustees on the Committee’s work.
Congress is the single largest event organised by the Society to bring the membership together in the interests of exchanging knowledge and advancing immunology research. Members of the Congress Committee are expected to:
- Develop, oversee and deliver the scientific programme for the BSI Congress
- Attend two annual face-to-face meetings and one annual meeting via teleconference
- Review proposals for sessions at Congress from the BSI Regional and Affinity Groups and the general membership
- Identify gaps in the Congress programme to ensure that the widest coverage possible of immunology is achieved
- Act as a committee liaison with session proposers and review abstract submissions
- Chair sessions at Congress and support early career researchers through mentoring
- Suggest topics and speakers for major international congresses that the BSI participates in (e.g. ECI, IUIS)
- Participate and contribute ideas and proposals, and flag up areas which should be given consideration
- Commit to the Society and its aims and to represent immunology in its broad interests, rather than a personal viewpoint, ensuring that the Society acts on behalf of all its members
- Be familiar with current trends and issues of relevance to the Society
- Adopt an open and transparent approach, and work collaboratively and collectively, accepting consensus
The primary responsibility of the Committee is to develop, oversee and deliver the scientific programme for the BSI Congress. In particular, the Committee reviews and approves proposed sessions and oversees the submissions and review process. Congress Committee members are also involved in organising and chairing specific sessions as required.
Composition of the Congress Committee
- Chair of the Congress Committee
- BSI President
- BSI Treasurer
- Clinical Research Secretary
- BSI-CIPN Representative
- BSI Director of Events and Training
- BSI events team members
- BSI Chief Executive (ex officio)
- Other members, representing sectors of the membership, including:
- General members
- Early career member
- Clinical member
Congress Committee members may be requested to undertake roles as liaison for activities with other societies or sectors by mutual agreement.
Duration of service
An elected member shall serve on Congress Committee for a single term of four years. If he or she has served a term as a member of Congress Committee, he or she must take a break and may not serve again as a member until two years have elapsed.
Meetings
The Congress Committee will hold a minimum of two face-to-face meetings and two Zoom meetings each year. Additional correspondence will be carried out between meetings via email, telephone and Zoom calls as appropriate. Additional ad-hoc meetings may be called as required (such as meetings at BSI Congress).
Members who do not attend for three consecutive meetings will be asked to leave the committee.