We are getting very excited about our upcoming 2021 online meeting, hosted by Cold Spring Harbor Labs. Due to current circumstances, we are a bit behind in soliciting proposals for 2023 and appreciate that it may well be difficult to predict what will be best for this meeting at this vantage. Hence we are now seeking initial expressions of interest for hosting the 2023 meeting by 20 April 2021. The deadline for the full proposal will then be set depending on interest and the evolving global circumstances.
We expect that the 2023 meeting may need to be hybrid in order to remain inclusive, though we are hopeful of having a face-to-face meeting (a hybrid conference would have a limited number of physical participants depending on any local or travel restrictions as well as online participants).
We typically meet in the northern hemisphere summer, usually in June or July. Our tradition of alternating between different sides of the Atlantic has been interrupted, so we are open to any locations. We would especially welcome proposals from colleagues in Central and Eastern Europe, as ISH has never met there, or other less familiar locales. Proposers should bear in mind that the Society prefers to meet in places that are appealing destinations, given that the meeting is a welcome occasion to combine work with some well-deserved holidays for many participants. It is also important that the site offer convenient travel infrastructure, affordable housing, and full accessibility. More detailed guidelines about hosting under normal circumstances are available from the ISH website, but we are happy to discuss expressions of interest in advance before they are finalised.
Local hosts are generally responsible for all local and any potential virtual arrangements and budgeting, including IT and online platform support and registration processes. ISH has a separate Program Committee (which works closely with local hosts), as well as providing some travel subsidies for students which we administer. Expressions of interest should include details of the proposed location, a listing of ISH members or others who would help to support local arrangements, availability of meeting rooms and some inexpensive housing options, likely institutional support, and capacity to support a hybrid meeting.
Please contact the chair of the Site Selection committee, Rachel Ankeny, by email at rachel.ankeny@adelaide.edu.au with any questions, and submit expressions of interest to her as well.