The American Institute for Conservation (AIC) and the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC) are excited to announce a joint virtual conference in 2021.
Join us from the comfort of your lab, office, or living room for the 2021 AIC & SPNHC Joint Virtual Meeting from May 10 – June 24, with a week of pre-sessions May 3-7.
Meeting StructureThe meeting will feature over 150 talks on all aspects of conservation and collection care. No matter your speciality, you will find a slate of talks that appeal to you. The talks will be arranged in two-hour session blocks that will be scheduled in weekly modules. Those who wish a more compact conference can focus their viewing over a couple of weeks. Those who prefer to sample talks across specialties will have the option to do so.
Meeting Theme Transform 2021
2020 has been challenging. Many of us were shut out of our workplaces by a global pandemic that exposed the financial vulnerability of our cultural institutions. At the same time, we witnessed tragic examples of the systemic racism endemic in 21st-century life – inequalities perpetuated by our own professional practices and within our own organizations. In the coming years, not only will we be forced to do more with less, but we are also morally obligated to address our biases and examine how identity and privilege sway our professional decision-making and interactions.
Meeting Schedule
A draft schedule has been released. The SPNHC Conference Committee is working with AIC to confirm the dates of SPNHC Committee and Business meetings. Several SPNHC-specific sessions are already scheduled, including the ever-popular Specimen Spotlight, and SPNHC members are currently planning additional socials and other content for the virtual meet. Keep an eye out for our further updates.
Joint Meeting
SPNHC and AIC are excited to partner and produce a joint virtual meeting for 2021. There will be many joint sessions, including a general session and joint sessions with the Collections Care Network, Objects, and the Research and Technical Studies group.
Meeting Technology
Sessions will be delivered via Zoom webinars. There will be automated closed captioning available.
Exhibit Hall
You will have the opportunity to connect with Exhibitors in several ways during the 2021 Annual Meeting: by visiting our virtual exhibit hall and booking an appointment with exhibitors, by attending the Exhibitor Showcases during the conference, and through 10-minute exhibitor experiences included in the sessions.
Registration – Registration is open
Discounts are on offer for those who register by February 28, 2021. The early registration rate is just $125 (USD) for SPNHC and AIC members and $75 (USD) for student members through February 28, 2021. Join SPNHC or renew your membership at https://spnhc.org/
In addition, for those who register by December 31, you will be entered into a contest to win:
- Registration to the AIC 2022 Annual Meeting in Los Angeles (2 prizes)
- $100 AIC credit that can be used towards any AIC purchase (3 prizes) (this excludes FAIC events).
SPNHC is currently exploring ways to help our members who are experiencing significant financial limitations at this time. Stay tuned for future announcements.
Unfamiliar with the 2021 AIC & SPNHC Joint Virtual Meeting? Visit the conference webpages.
For queries or further information on the SPNHC content please contact the conference team via julian.carter@museumwales.ac.uk