We have put into place a number of actions to ensure as far as possible equal opportunity for male and female delegates at ICQ16 in Nancy.

These include:

a) Collecting and publishing the statistics of attendance and speaker/invited speakers balance from previous ICQ conferences provided by previous organizers, and strive to improve the gender balance in the current edition.

b) Ensure that the final scientific program of the conference offers equal opportunities with respect to the gender ratio of the attendees.

c) In case grants will be available for young scientists attending the meeting, the gender balance will be sought in the attribution of these grants.

d) For parents who would like to attend the conference, the organizers will make their best to accommodate any needs upon request within reasonable delay.

e) The gender policy statement proposed by the International Union of Crystallography will be respected:

The International Union of Crystallography strives to achieve gender balance in all its institutions and activities bearing in mind other diversity needs and its existing obligations to geographic and academic discipline representation where appropriate.

To achieve this aim the IUCr will adopt procedures to promote gender balance in respect of all of its activities including selection of candidates for positions on its Committees and Commissions. Those seeking support from the Union for Congresses, meetings, workshops and schools will also have to demonstrate their efforts to address gender balance.