FIU faculty, staff, and students are often invited to attend international conferences and meetings. This is an exciting opportunity to engage with colleagues from around the world! International conference attendees should be mindful of several key points related to international travel and conference/meeting attendance:
- Individuals who are invited to attend a conference or meeting in a comprehensively sanctioned country (Cuba, Iran, Syria, and North Korea) should be aware that such activity in a sanctioned country may be prohibited. Where attendance is permitted, speaking at such a conference is often a ‘service’ and is prohibited under OFAC. If you wish to attend and/or present at a conference in Cuba, Iran, Syria, or North Korea, please contact Export Control as soon as possible for assistance.
- Information shared or presented at a conference or meeting is generally excluded from export controls under the Public Information. Most conference presentations, pamphlets, handouts, etc. are not subject to export controls. However, if attendance at the conference is restricted or contingent on accepting a Non-Disclosure agreement, the information shared may not qualify as “public.” If you have questions or concerns about whether conference or meeting material is subject to export controls, please contact Export Control.
- When attending a conference or meeting overseas, attendees should also be careful not to include or discuss any proprietary, unpublished, and/or export-restricted data. Many travelers find it helpful to plan ahead: think about relevant topics and work that is already in the public domain and stick to those topics. Likewise, plan ahead for how you will address questions related to a restricted topic. Consider statements such as “I can speak generally about that area, but much of that information is proprietary and I want to respect our confidentiality obligations,” which address the issue and also demonstrate your commitment to ethical behavior.
- Lastly, as with any foreign travel, faculty and staff should carefully review the information on International Travel, particularly for those traveling to a sanctioned or other high-risk destination.