After a year of attending virtual convenings, we’ve come to appreciate many benefits, but we still long for the things that can only happen in person.

As vaccinations increase, case numbers decline, and states, localities, and institutions begin the process of reopening, we are all left wondering what the newest “new normal” will look like. Like most scientific organizations, we are actively confronting these questions, especially as they relate to our 2022 Annual Meeting.

We write now to share with you some of the preliminary plans for the 2022 meeting, and to ask for your patience and understanding as we work to finalize some of the outstanding details in the months ahead. 

• Philly, here we come! We invite those who are comfortable doing so to join us February 17-20 in Philadelphia. Our in-person experience will feature live Plenary Lectures, Topical Lectures, special programming, and great social and networking opportunities – all in a city that is ready to welcome visitors – safely – with open arms.
• Scientific Sessions will be virtual. To ensure that as many people as possible are able to participate in the Scientific Sessions, they will be entirely virtual. Speakers can participate from wherever they feel comfortable, including Philly. Scientific Sessions will begin in January with the release of Spotlight Videos, which will prepare all meeting participants to engage in active discussion during the live panel sessions.
  For those who join us in Philly, we’ll have Community Viewing Pods where attendees can view the Scientific Sessions with friends and colleagues, enabling those spontaneous hallway connections and conversations that we’ve all missed.
• A first-rate virtual experience. Not able to join us in Philly? No problem! You’ll be able to participate in all of our Plenary Lectures, Topical Lectures, Scientific Sessions, and Workshops – live! – via a new and improved virtual meeting platform.
• Deadlines remain the same. The submission site for Scientific Sessions and Workshops will remain open through June 17. This year’s meeting theme “Empower With Evidence” aims to inspire sessions that illustrate the transformative power of evidence-based discoveries and that address the challenges of rebuilding the public trust in science. Meeting registration will open in September.

The Annual Meeting team will continue to work tirelessly to create a convening that features compelling content, powerful professional development, and unparalleled networking opportunities in the safest possible settings.

We look forward to seeing you in Philly or online.

Sincerely,

Susan G. Amara, Ph.D.
President, AAAS
Chair, 2022 Annual Meeting