The Community Network for African Vector-Borne Plant Viruses (CONNECTED) is a Vector-borne Diseases Network awarded to the University of Bristol, UK. It is funded by the Bristol Centre for Agricultural Innovation (BCAI).
Please read the terms and conditions below. By becoming a member, you accept these terms and conditions and agree to act in accordance with them. If you do not agree to these terms, do not register as a member. If you have any concerns about membership terms and conditions please contact the Network Manager before completing your registration.
Definitions
The University: The University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TH, UK
The Network: The Community Network for African Vector-Borne Plant Viruses (CONNECTED), a GCRF Vector-borne Diseases Network awarded to the University of Bristol, UK.
Network Executive Group: Network Director Professor Gary Foster of the University of Bristol, Network Co-Director Dr Neil Boonham of the University of Newcastle and Fera Science Ltd, Network Managers Dr Diane Hird and (to be appointed) University of Bristol.
Management Board: As listed here.
The website: The website of the CONNECTED Network is hosted by Castlegate IT Ltd.
BBSRC: The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
GCRF: The Global Challenges Research Fund, part of the UK Government’s Official Development Assistance commitment.
1. How to become a Network member
To become a member you need to submit your details via the online membership form.
You are required to complete all the main fields and may choose to provide additional optional information.
Subject to the approval of the Network Executive Group, membership will be granted and the Network member agrees to abide by these conditions. Members who do not abide by the conditions may have their membership revoked or suspended at the discretion of the Network Executive Group.
Membership of the Network does not imply endorsement of the Network member or any products, services or research conducted by the Network member
Membership of the Network is at all times subject to the approval of the Network Executive Group.
If you wish to terminate your membership you should contact the Network Manager. If the email address you provide during the registration process becomes invalid and emails sent to you by the Network Manager result in a Delivery Notification Status (failure) response, your membership will be considered to have lapsed and your details will be deleted from the searchable directory of members.
You are responsible for ensuring that the information stored in your profile is up to date.
Network members are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality and security of their account, and for all activities that occur on or through their Account, and you agree to immediately notify the Network Manager of any security breach of your Account. CONNECTED shall not be responsible for any losses arising out of the unauthorized use of your Account.
2. Data Management
All data provided by the Network members will be processed in accordance with the UK Data Protection Act 1988.
Network members agree that the Network Executive Group may share data provided by the Network members with other Network members, other Vector-borne Disease Networks and Vaccines in Research and Development Networks funded by GCRF, the BBSRC or other like organisations at the Network Executive Group’s discretion for the purpose of promoting and enabling the work of the Network.
The BBSRC encourage data sharing and this is a primary purpose of the Network.
In choosing to submit your personal data, you understand and agree that this data will be:
Uploaded to the secure BBSRC extranet in line with BBSRC reporting and data collation requirements. BBSRC may use the information provided on the BBSRC Extranet for research related activities, including but not limited to, statistical analysis in relation to evaluation of the BBSRC, study of trends and policy and strategy studies. Retained statistical data will be anonymised.
Stored on the Network website in a manner which makes it accessible to other Network members, some of whom may live outside of the European Economic Area, but not to non-members.
Stored locally by the University on a secure server and used by the Network Manager to keep you up to date by email with relevant Network activities and funding opportunities
3. Your interactions with other Network members
As a Network member, you will be able to search other member’s profiles with a view to exchanging research ideas and establishing research consortia to respond to funding opportunities in the research area of African vector-borne plant viruses.
You do not have permission to use contact details obtained from the member’s directory to send unsolicited emails for the purpose of direct marketing.
Any material displayed on the website is provided without any guarantees, conditions or warranties as to its accuracy. Your use of the website and its contents is at your own risk.
You should seek advice from your Institution’s knowledge transfer/research support service prior to establishing consortia with other Network members. The University is not liable for losses resulting from your decision to engage in consortia building discussions with other Network members.
Content provided in the website secure area is made available to Network members only and should not be passed to third parties. You must not share your unique login details with anyone else and you must take immediate steps to change your login details if you suspect that another person is using them.
You have been given access to other Network member details for the single purpose of building critical mass and enabling research consortia to respond to funding opportunities in the research area of African vector-borne plant viruses.
Content shared through the website secure area will be subject to copyright. The University owns all Intellectual property rights contained in works which are created by us or on our behalf. You will not modify the paper or digital copies of any materials you have printed off or downloaded and you must not use any illustrations, photographs or graphics separately from any accompanying text. You will acknowledge the source of any material downloaded or printed from the Network website.
Materials will be made available on the website in accordance with BBSRC’s data sharing policy statement which expects that research data generated as a result of BBSRC support will be made available with as few restrictions as possible in a timely and responsible manner to the scientific community for subsequent research.
Materials will be made available on the website in accordance with BBSRC’s knowledge exchange management policy which states that BBSRC has a responsibility to enable the optimal and successful application of the outcomes of the excellent research it funds and must ensure the widest benefit to society and the economy both within and beyond the UK.
3. Uploading content to the secure area of the website
As a Network member, you will have the opportunity to post comments on discussion forums within the members’ secure area.
As a Network member, you may ask the Network Manager to upload relevant content such as advertisements about jobs, events or other opportunities to the members’ secure area of the website on your behalf.
As a Network member, you should not store original research data on the CONNECTED website. You should store original research data in a manner compliant with your own university or institute’s data protection policies.
In becoming a member you understand and agree that:
Access to the website is permitted on a temporary basis and the University reserves the right to withdraw, suspend or amend this facility without notice. We will not be liable if for any reason the website is unavailable at any time.
Postings made in the website secure area should be treated as confidential and must not be passed to non-members.
You are solely responsible for any information you choose to provide for upload and the University will not be liable for such activities.
You will not use any Network resources for any purposes which are unlawful or harmful.
In the event that you provide content for the website such content will not be used for the transmission, uploading or posting of any computer viruses or any other harmful or deleterious files or programs.
You will not provide for upload any material which is defamatory, offensive, racist, vulgar, libellous or of an obscene or menacing character, or in such a way as to cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety.
Before providing material for upload to the website, you will ensure that you have the full and unrestricted right to copy and distribute such materials. Anything you choose to share will be accessible to all Network members.
The University is bound by the terms of the UK Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) or such later revisions of the Act and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. All information and communications uploaded or posted to the Network website may be subject to public disclosure under the FOIA, and that the University shall have no liability whatsoever to you arising from any disclosure of information it is required to make under the FOIA.
4. Attending Network events
As a Network member you will have the right to apply to attend Network workshops and events.
In becoming a member you understand and agree that:
Submission of an application to attend an event does not constitute confirmation that a place has been awarded to you. Places may be limited depending on capacity and will be issued on a first come first served basis.
In the event that you are successful in your application to attend a Network event, you will receive a confirmatory email upon the award of your place followed by full attendance details which will be made available in advance of the event.
The University will not be held liable for any costs incurred by you prior to a confirmed place being awarded.
The University will not be held liable for costs incurred due to circumstances outside of our control, such as transport delays or late changes in venue availability.
Network members may be able to apply for the travel, accommodation and subsistence costs incurred to enable them to attend a Network event. More details will be provided for specific events.
5. Updates to terms and conditions
The University may revise these terms and conditions of membership at any time. We will post a notification of any changes we make on the website and notify you by email. You will have the option to terminate your membership if you do not agree with future changes to terms and conditions.
6. Governing law and dispute resolution
These terms and conditions are governed by, and to be construed in accordance with, English Law. The English Courts will have exclusive jurisdiction to deal with any dispute which has arisen or may arise out of, or in connection with, these terms and conditions.