The Board of SHA has decided to take the annual conference virtual. This is, of course, a new direction for the SHA. The program will be organized to best accommodate a variety of papers, posters, and fora to discuss research, theory, methods, and interpretation, as usual, but also to provide opportunities for discussing our archaeological response to these strange times. Archaeologists are known for our ability to improvise, adapt, and overcome, whether broken field equipment, suddenly lost funding, or a global pandemic. We will socially distance together in January and create our own “Archaeological Decameron” to disseminate, discuss, and distract. The bar may not be quite as fun, but we have much to share.

HOW THIS VIRTUAL CONFERENCE WILL WORK
The SHA will be using the OpenWater platform (www.getopenwater.com/virtual-conferencesoftware/) for its 2021 Conference. All accepted paper and poster presentations must be prerecorded and uploaded to the OpenWater platform by 1 December 2020. Pre-recorded presentations will be made available to conference registrants for viewing at their convenience prior to the January conference via the OpenWater SHA Conference portal. Presenters and discussants in each paper and poster session are expected to be available at their scheduled session time during the January conference to answer questions from registrants about their presentation. Fora/panels will be scheduled as “live” events during the January conference. The forum/panel moderator will take questions from the virtual audience and relay them to the panelists for discussion.

OpenWater and the SHA will provide presenters with guides and assistance for preparing their pre-recorded paper/poster presentations and with instructions for uploading them to OpenWater after abstracts are accepted. Presenters will need access to a computer with internet connection, camera, and microphone to record their presentations in advance of the conference and to participate in sessions during the January conference. The SHA 2021 Conference will also feature additional scheduled events at which registrants can meet virtually with their colleagues for learning and networking opportunities.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
Conference Chair: Della Scott-Ireton (Florida Public Archaeology Network, University of West Florida)
Program Co-Chairs: Amanda Evans (Gray & Pape, Inc.) & Christopher Horrell (Submerged Archaeological Conservancy International)Terrestrial Program Chair: Mary Furlong Minkoff (James Madison’s Montpelier)
Underwater Program Chair: Melanie Damour (Submerged Archaeological Conservancy International)
Popular Program Coordinators: Sara Ayers-Rigsby (Florida Public Archaeology Network, Florida Atlantic University) & Kevin Gidusko (PaleoWest)
Social Media Liaisons: Sarah Miller (Florida Public Archaeology Network, Flagler College) & Emily Jane Murray (Florida Public Archaeology Network, Flagler College)
Accessibility & Inclusion Coordinator: Liz Quinlan (University of York)
ConfTool Liaison: Christopher Horrell (Submerged Archaeological Conservancy International)
Awards: Paul Mullins (Indiana University-Purdue University)