The 53rd American Peanut Research and Education Society Annual Meeting will be virtual, rather than in-person, organizers decided this week.
The 2021 gathering was scheduled to be in Dallas the week of July 13-15, but many potential participants work for agencies or companies that have travel restrictions due to the lingering Covid-19 pandemic. While vaccinations are providing some encouraging signs that people may be able to travel and gather safely soon, society may not meet that milestone by the July meeting.
“It became clear through this discussion the meeting we all want–filled with colleagues, collegial atmosphere, and dynamic discourse is currently compromised by the ability for many to travel to and meet in Dallas. The use of APRES’ reserves to offset any potential financial impact from reduced attendance carried the vote to a virtual format,” President Gary Schwarzlose and Program Chair David Jordan said in a message to society members.
The meeting will explore the theme “Complicated and Challenging World Created by Viruses,” and all presentations will be virtual, but live including the breakout sessions, general session, technical symposium and the Joe Sugg Oral Presentation Graduate Student Competition. Poster-presenters will be asked to record and explanation of their work.
Abstracts will be accepted until April 15. Registration is $250 for APRES members, $25 for students, post docs, and retired members.