Call for Participants and Presentations 

Society of American Archivists
2021 Research Forum
"Foundations and Innovations"

Wednesday, July 21, 1:00 – 4:30 pm CT

Wednesday, July 28, 1:00 – 4:30 pm CT

Virtual Meetings

Archivists from around the country and the world will convene virtually at ARCHIVES*RECORDS 2021, the Annual Meeting of the Society of American Archivists, August 2-6, 2021. The 2021 Research Forum will take place in the weeks leading up to the Annual Meeting. If you’re engaged in research, seeking to identify research-based solutions for your institution, willing to participate in the research cycle by serving as a site for research trials, or simply interested in what’s happening in research and innovation, join us for the 15th annual SAA Research Forum: “Foundations and Innovations”!

Researchers, practitioners, educators, students, and the curious across all sectors of archives and records management are invited to participate. Use the Forum to discuss, debate, plan, organize, evaluate, or motivate research projects and initiatives. Here’s your chance to find collaborators or to help inform colleagues about questions and problems that need to be tackled. The Forum features the full spectrum of research activities—from “pure” research to applied research to innovative practice—all of interest and value to the archives community.

Call for Platform and Poster Presentations

The 2021 Research Forum will be conducted as two Zoom-based virtual sessions, each three-and-a-half hours long, on Wednesday, July 21, from 1:00 to 4:30 pm CT and on Wednesday, July 28, from 1:00 to 4:30 pm CT. In addition, professional posters will be displayed with presenters’ contact information so that one-on-one discussions can take place.

SAA invites submission of abstracts (of 300 words or fewer) for a 10-minute platform presentation or a poster. Topics may address research or innovations in any aspect of archives practice or records management in government, corporate, academic, scientific, or other setting. Presentations on research results that may have emerged since the Annual Meeting Call for Proposals deadline are welcome, as are reports on research completed within the past three years that you think is relevant and valuable for discussion. Please indicate whether you intend a platform or poster presentation.

The organizers encourage submissions for the Research Forum that address

1) Diversity and inclusion, including professional identity and/or

2) Collaborating across domains (archives, libraries, galleries, and museums).

Abstracts will be evaluated by a review committee co-chaired by Dr. Nance McGovern (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and Dr. Heather Soyka (Kent State University).

Important Dates

Submission deadline: May 15

Notification to submitters: July 1

Deadline for accepted submitters to finalize Abstract and Bio: July 10

Accepted poster presenters upload poster image: July 10

All submitters will be notified of the review committee’s decision by July 1. The submission link will be live through May 15.

Please be sure to include: Presentation title, your name and affiliation, email address, and whether your proposal is for a platform or poster presentation. Contact organizers prior to the notification deadline (July 1) if you have submitted and determine that you will not be able to attend.

For ideas or to learn more about past Forums, see the 2007-2020 proceedings at http://archivists.org/proceedings/research-forum.

Questions? Contact the organizers at [log in to unmask] – and watch for updates on the Forum’s webpage at http://archivists.org/proceedings/research-forum and at @saaresearch on Twitter.