International Congress of Meat Science and Technology

Scope

The scope of ICoMST is to enhance the co-operation and exchange of scientific information between academic and industry-based researchers in the field of meat science and technology.

The Congress meetings focus on presenting the latest findings in specific scientific disciplines, providing critical reviews of the work done in the various fields, as well as up-dating the latest knowledge on current issues most relevant to meat as food. The Congress meetings also enhance discussions between the researchers, irrespective of their country of origin, experience or scientific career, thus providing a forum for exchange of scientific knowledge and ideas, planning of joint research and other co-operative initiatives. ..

Organisation

The first Congress was organised in 1955 under name ‘European Meeting of Meat Research Workers’. The name was changed to International Congress of Meat Science and Technology in 1987.

The Congress Language is English.

The symbol of ICoMST is a cow bell which is used to open and to close each Congress. The Congress Bell is handed to the Chairman of the Organising Committee during the closing ceremony.

The organisational body of the Congress is the ‘Contact Persons’. Each country can send one representative to the Meeting of Contact Persons. The way in which this representative is elected is freely chosen by each country. The Meeting of Contact Persons takes place annually during the Congress. At this meeting, the hosting countries for future meetings for five subsequent years are decided, as well as other issues necessary for the continuity of the Congress. Options for further future hosting beyond this time may be suggested. The Contact Secretary is elected at this meeting for a five year term.

The Congresses are organised in principle to take place every second year in Europe and in a location elsewhere in the world, outside of Europe, on alternate years.

Organising Committee

The Congress is organised by the national Organising Committee of the nation chosen to host the meeting. The Organising Committee has full freedom to choose the way in which the Congress will be deliverd. The organising country, the Chairman of the Organising Committee, the Organising Committee as well their background organisations have full functional and economical responsibility for the Congress.

Each Organising Committee is urged to develop an economical congress fee to facilitate the participation of as many participants as possible.

The Organising Committee should provide a preliminary report outlining the details of the Congress to the Meeting of Contact Persons. After the meeting, a full report should be prepared and given to the Organisers of the three subsequent Congress meetings and to the Contact Secretary. The report should contain numerical information about the meeting and also about the economics of the meeting.

The Organising Committee presents the status of the organisation of the next meeting at the Meeting of Contact Persons. The Organising Committee sends the final circular to the eventual participants not later than six months before the Congress. The Organising Committee also sends extra copies and the mailing list of the country in question to contact persons, who will then send them to the eventual participants not listed in the mailing list. The whole mailing list of the country in question to contact persons, who will then send them to the eventual participants not listed in the mailing list. The whole mailing list will be send to the Contact Secretary who will then discuss with the Organisers about the eventual other measures, e.g. missing countries that must be taken care.

ICoMST has a Planning Group, consisting of the Chairman of the Organising Committee (or a representative on their behalf), from the last meeting, present meeting, and the five subsequent planned meetings, and the Contact Secretary. The Planning Group has a half-day meeting in connection with each Congress. The purpose of the meetings is to provide planning details to the Organisers of future Congresses. The Congresses have participants, student participants, part-time participants and accompanying persons. They should be treated on an equal basis.

The Proceedings

The contributions of the Congress are published in the form of Proceedings, which will be free to participants and student participants. The participants should have the Proceedings, or at least the abstracts as hard copies, at their disposal during the Congress. The organiser can decide also if commercial publishers will be used.

The author(s) of the paper(s) has the full copyright of their own material. When the materials are published by a commercial publisher, the instructions of the publisher are applied.

The Organising Committee sets a price for the Proceedings for those who want to obtain it outside the Congress. The Organising Committee shall also indicate an address where the Proceedings can be obtained after the meeting.

Contact Secretary

ICoMST has a Contact Secretary, who provides a permanent address for ICoMST to facilitate co-operation and contacts for past and future meetings. The function of the Contact Secretary is also to establish contacts with people and organisations outside ICoMST and assist the organisers of the meetings.