2027 Workshop Proposals
Workshop Proposals are due by 11:59 PM PST on November 16, 2026.
The proposal form will open on October 15, 2026.
Workshop Overview
Workshops are intended to allow participants to engage in intensive discussions or training activities focused on a particular theme or topic. Workshops generally involve small groups, emphasize participant involvement, and are oriented toward a specific goal or outcome. They are NOT intended for presentation of academic research to a general audience.
AABA Workshop Guidelines
Any active AABA member may submit a workshop proposal. Workshop organizers may not sell products or charge admission for profit; however, workshop participants may be asked to pay reasonable registration fees to cover catering or materials, such as training documents, required for participation. Workshops must be open to all registered conference attendees, but organizers may cap attendance and/or require advanced registration.
Workshops can be virtual or in-person. Full- and half-day workshops are scheduled on the Wednesday before the conference. Two-hour workshops will be scheduled Thursday–Saturday, usually during the midday break or late afternoon.
Financial Support for Workshops
A small amount of competitively awarded funding is available to help defray the costs of events sponsored by AABA committees. Eligible costs include travel, lodging, and honoraria for speakers or panelists, as well as materials such as handouts. Requests may also include costs to extend the workshop’s reach through electronic/virtual technologies or other means. Catering and member or student travel are NOT eligible for reimbursement. Students should be encouraged to apply for the Pollitzer Student Travel Awards.
Priority is given to workshops that include speakers/discussants who would not normally attend AABA meetings and who will significantly enhance the workshop’s impact. Priority is also given to requests that will increase diversity and outreach, for example, by supporting the attendance of speakers from qualifying nations.
Applicants should explain how the requested funds will enhance the workshop’s impact and justify each budget item. Typical awards are $1,500–$2,000. Funding requests are submitted simultaneously with the workshop proposal. Please note that funding decisions are made AFTER the conference program is set.
Steps to Submit a Workshop Proposal
Read the Instructions
Please read the Guidelines for Preparing a Workshop Proposal before starting the submission process.
Proposal Submission
Please have all materials ready before beginning the submission process. Proposals will be submitted using a Google Form.
Note: You CANNOT save a draft and return to the proposal; once submitted, the proposal CANNOT be edited. Please proofread all text entries carefully.
Guidelines for Preparing a Workshop Proposal
Successful workshop proposals demonstrate careful planning, clearly state the workshop’s format and objectives, and list anticipated participant outcomes, such as increased knowledge or skills. Identifying the workshop’s target audience is a good first step to developing a focused proposal.
Proposal Submission Fields
- Workshop Title: Enter the workshop title exactly as you wish it to appear in the program using sentence case capitalization. Subtitles should be capitalized and preceded by colons; proper nouns and taxonomic names should also be capitalized as appropriate. Do NOT enclose the title in quotation marks.
- Organizer(s): Name(s), affiliation(s), and emails.
- Sponsorship: Is the workshop being proposed by an AABA committee, an affiliate organization, or an individual member?
- Short Description (25 words max): A concise synopsis suitable for publication in the conference proceedings and use in social media posts.
- Workshop Abstract (300 words max): Describe the workshop’s topic, objectives, and format, and list planned contributors including panelists, speakers, and facilitators. Justify the value of the workshop to its participants, bioanthropology, and the AABA, and, if relevant, explain how the workshop contributes to diversity within bioanthropology.
- Target Audience: Identify the workshop’s intended audience.
- Format: Select full-day, half-day, or 2 hours.
- Schedule: State preferred day(s) or time(s). Note: the Program Committee cannot guarantee that organizer preferences will be honored.
- Funding: Is funding being requested?
- Budget (Optional): If funding is being requested, provide an itemized budget and justification for each expense. Indicate whether the symposium’s feasibility is contingent upon receiving AABA funds and identify any additional funding sources.
- Organizer Statements: Organizers will be required to affirm that they have exercised due diligence to ensure that all invited presenters comply with the AABA Code of Ethics, relevant institutional requirements, and best research practices (where applicable), and that all contributors have been allowed to review the workshop proposal in its entirety, including the list of presenters.
Workshop Review Process
Members of the AABA Executive Committee will review and rank workshop proposals, giving priority to those submitted by AABA committees followed by those judged to have the broadest impact for AABA members. Due to time and space constraints, even strong workshop proposals may be rejected.
Workshop organizers will be notified of the Executive Committee’s decisions no later than December 31, 2026. Organizers whose proposals are not accepted are encouraged to consider presenting their workshop as an AABA Webinar.
Questions?
Please email AABA Vice President & Program Chair Michelle Singleton at vicepresident@bioanth.org.