As members of the Society for American Archaeology and members of the Archaeological Community, we are dismayed that the society still continues to plan to offer an in person conference for 2022 in Chicago. This is for the following reasons: 1.) We are currently in the midst of an unprecedented climate crisis. One meeting of the AGU created carbon emissions equivalent to those of 1443 average American families. 2.) We are still in a global pandemic and requiring presenters to present in person in packed indoor conference centers both places communities in Chicago at risk as well as the communities within which researchers reside. 3.) This is also an issue of equity: archaeologists who live outside the United States and who do either not have vaccine access or who are unable to travel because of travel bans will be unable to access the conference.

We urge the society to rethink its next meeting and offer either a fully online or hybrid experience.