AGU Fall Meeting 2020 Update

[Editor’s Note: This afternoon, AGU sent the following email to past Fall Meeting participants. We wanted to make sure everyone received the information, so we posted it here too.]

By: Guy Brasseur, Fall Meeting Program Committee Chair; Sabine Stanley, Meetings Committee Chair; and Lauren Parr, Vice President, Meetings

We are living through tremendous uncertainty and confusion due to this worldwide pandemic.

But we are also living through one of the most selfless times in history. Individuals around the world are staying home to protect the most vulnerable populations and to flatten the curve so the medical community can care for those who need it most. This is what has united us.

This is humanity at its best.

We – AGU volunteers and staff – also know that for some, it is impossible to think one day ahead, let alone eight months ahead to AGU Fall Meeting. For others, it’s thinking about these future moments and events that help keep us moving forward.

For many AGU volunteers and staff, our version of normalcy is created by planning Fall Meeting 2020, 7-11 December and everything that surrounds it: from sessions, workshops and town halls to Honors and Recognition to keynotes. Over the next few months, you’ll regularly hear from us about deadlines, announcements and other important news.

We are working to prepare for three possible scenarios for Fall Meeting sessions, keynotes and networking:
1.     As usual, with a mix of virtual and in-person in San Francisco, CA;
2.     Heavier on virtual with some in-person in San Francisco, CA; and
3.     100% virtual.

Every message about Fall Meeting won’t start with COVID-19, but please know that it’s always at the forefront of our minds. All of us are facing the same attempts to balance work, personal and everything in between. At this point, we still have plenty of time to develop these options and decide which is necessary or most appropriate.

What drives us is the hope that we get to watch your reactions when you see your friends and colleagues at Fall Meeting, whether in-person and/or virtually. We love to hear someone talk about new research, idea or opportunity at our event. In order for that to happen though, planning must start now.

We also need your help—the deadline for session, workshop and town hall submissions has been extended to Thursday, 23 April. As you know, these form the basis for the science and networking at our meeting. Ideas for these, as well as innovative sessions that include a virtual component, will help us explore options for other sessions in-person or virtually.

Planning the Fall Meeting will include announcing deadlines for sessions, awards, abstracts, sponsorships and exhibiting. As the details continue to develop, you’ll receive updates with options. We will remain as flexible as possible so please contact us if you want to discuss any questions.

AGU will always prioritize the health and safety of our members, attendees, exhibitors, sponsors and staff. We will continue to follow science and the advice of WHO, CDC and state and local health authorities.

To help keep you up-to-date on the latest deadlines, this simple webpage will have the pertinent information.

Thank you for your continued support of AGU and Fall Meeting.