| October 30, 2020

FAQ on COVID-19 Contingency Plans for AN21 and Co-Located Meetings

It appears unlikely that conference travel will be back to normal by the summer of 2021. Should I submit to AN21 (or ACDA21, CT21, DM21, or OP21) or wait for more news?

SIAM intends to hold AN21 and co-located meetings as a hybrid, or 100% virtual conference. You should submit your work under the expectation of having a mode of presentation that is as close as we can provide to the experience of an in-person SIAM conference.
If the event is held virtually, or if I attend virtually, will there be a registration fee?

Yes, there will be a fee for participating remotely in a virtual or hybrid conference. Registration fees will be posted in the spring of 2021.
Suppose SIAM AN21 is able to run at least partially on site. It’s likely we’ll still have to consider social distancing. What will be done in each session to ensure that this is observed? Some of the rooms can be pretty small and get pretty full.

Hotels and convention centers are in the process of revising room capacities, seating plans, and service practices to reflect local, state, and federal guidelines around social distancing, use of personal protective equipment, and other measures to minimize the probability of viral transmission. The Spokane Convention Center’s COVID-19 response plan is available here. SIAM will work with their local conference partners to provide clear information and guidance to conference attendees, and will make room adjustments as necessary to minimize the impact of social distancing measures on technical sessions.
If AN21 is held as a hybrid conference with an in-person component and I have concerns about traveling, will I be able to present remotely?

Yes.
When will SIAM know/make decisions regarding the on-site vs. virtual arrangements format for the meeting?

SIAM expects to have more information to share about the format of AN21 by spring 2021.
If Spokane has more cases of COVID-19 than other cities in the U.S., is it possible that AN21 or any of the co-located conferences will be held in a different city?

No other physical site will be considered for AN21, ACDA21, CT21, DM21, or OP21. If Spokane is not viable, these meetings will be held virtually.
Will SIAM post a recommended/required contact tracing application?

At this point, SIAM is not advocating for or against the use of a contact tracing application.
What happens to sponsor funds if the conference changes format?

In cases of conference format changes, SIAM opens a dialog with sponsors to find alternative opportunities that would achieve their sponsorship goals. If no such opportunity can be found and the sponsorship agreement does not address the contingency, the sponsor will be released from the commitment.