The Triennial Conference shall be conducted every third year (in the series ….2011,2014,2017). The aim of the conference shall be to

1. Promote interest in research and encourage presentation of new studies in the discipline of Medical Microbiology with emphasis on clinical aspects of Medical Microbiology.
2. Conduct workshops on new techniques in microbiology
3. Dissemination of knowledge by inviting eminent persons to talk on their area of specialisation based on a theme during the CME programme.

The hosting institution of the Triennial conference will be decided by the GBM conducted during the previous triennial conference. The conference can be hosted by a single or group of institutions with the main host choosing the venue for the conference. The theme of the conference can be decided by the organisers.

The first day should be for workshop, second day for the CME, and the third day for conference. Based on the capability of the centre, CME may focus on one subject or different topics may be conducted at different venues in the same centre as parallel sessions. There may be one or more workshops on the same day and this may be conducted either in the same centre or at different centres in the same city. The conference will mainly consist of scientific papers presented by senior doctors, middle level faculty and students with ample time for discussion. The ACM oration will be conducted on the day of the conference. Based on the number of papers, conference may be for one to two days.

Financial Support: ACM has started a fixed deposit that will generate around Rs 30,000/-every three years and this will be given as a fund to the host for the conduct of the conference. For the CME, an amount of Rs 20,000/- may be given as loan to the host institution which has to mandatorily return the amount. For the oration, there is another fixed deposit that will generate Rs 10,000/- every three years to be given to the orator.

Announcements:

1st announcement must be sent one year before the due date to all ACM members and institutions. The announcement should include –

1. The theme of the conference and expected topics for workshop, CME and conference
2. Registration details – fees, dates for early bird, bank details
3. Invitation for
4. and poster presentation, categories, format for abstract and last date for abstract submission

Second announcement should be sent 8 months before the due dates and should include

1. One or more workshops can be arranged
2. Maximum participants that can be accommodated for each workshop has to be mentioned in the brochure

Guidelines for conducting each program:

Workshop:

1. Should have topics presented by invited speakers
2. There will be a separate inauguration ceremony for CME
3. On the day of the CME, time (1 hr) should be allotted for ACM general body meeting(GBM) which has to be clearly mentioned in the brochure.
4. Should have topics presented by invited speakers
5. During this GBM, election for the office bearers for the next 3 years will be conducted.

CME:

1. Should have topics presented by invited speakers
2. There will be a separate inauguration ceremony for CME
3. On the day of the CME, time (1 hr) should be allotted for ACM general body meeting(GBM) which has to be clearly mentioned in the brochure.
4. Should have topics presented by invited speakers
5. During this GBM, election for the office bearers for the next 3 years will be conducted.

To conduct General body meeting:

GBM will be conducted on the day before the Conference. The agenda must be made and circulated among the members prior to the meeting. The members attending should sign in the minutes’ register. Election of new office bearer will be the first agenda always. The office bearers for the next 3 years will be elected during the GBM. Audited accounts for the three years will be presented by the outgoing treasurer and passed by GB. The CMEs and next triennial conference venues will be decided for the next three years. Other activities to be taken up by the members in the following years will be discussed. All the discussions and the conclusions must be entered in the Minutes register also. This will be presented to the Registrar of Societies in Thiruvananthapuram within two weeks of the GBM. All registers, account books, pass books, receipt book etc. duly updated have to be handed over to the new office bearers.

Conference:

There will be an inauguration ceremony for the conference. The program will consist of:

1. Welcome speech by the Organising Chairperson
2. nauguration of the Conference by the invited dignitary
3. Presentation of the previous 3 years’ report by the ACM secretary(outgoing)
4. Address by the outgoing ACM President
5. Garlanding of the newly elected ACM President by the outgoing President. The garland has small plaques with the name of the outgoing president written on it (This has to be done before the Conference)
6. Address by the New President and introduction of the new office bearers.
7. Vote of thanks by the organising Secretary

Following the inauguration ceremony there will be ACM Oration which will be followed by the presentation of ACM Oration award to the speaker.

This will be followed by paper presentations- Free paper for faculty and best paper session for PG students.

Poster presentation should also be included on the conference day. Exact time and venue of the poster session must be clearly mentioned in the brochure.

Judges will assess the presentations and posters and awards given to the best.

Requirements for poster and oral presentation:

Papers will be called in for two categories: free paper and best paper. For all papers and poster, at least one author must be a member of ACM and presentation must be done by a medical doctor (MBBS)

1. The decision whether the study will be presented as poster or oral presentation will be made by the scientific committee of the conference.
2. There will be no prizes for free paper.
3. Good papers will be selected for plenary session with more time allotted either before inauguration or just after the ACM oration.
4. Papers submitted to best paper category must be studies conducted by post graduate students in MD Microbiology and will be presented by actual researcher.
5. Poster session will be conducted during lunch break of the conference and all posters will automatically come under consideration for best poster award.
6. Poster can be prepared and submitted as Poster itself or a paper can be delegated to poster presentation by the scientific committee.
7. Posters also need to have a member of ACM as one of the authors with presenting author being a medical doctor.
8. Clinically oriented papers will be given preference.

ACM Oratio:

Oration applications are called for (along with the first announcement of conference) by writing to the Senior members of ACM for giving oration in their concerned topics. If more than one member applies, the senior most will be selected. An oration award of Rs 10000/- will be given after the presentation in the conference.