Events2020 Annual MeetingYour AAR staff continues to work toward holding the Annual Meeting in Boston, Nov. 21-24, 2020. We are aware of the uncertainty and contradictory projections related to the COVID-19 pandemic and with health and safety as a priority, we will continue monitoring the guidance of governments and health experts as we plan and make decisions. Should any changes need to be made related to the 2020 Annual Meeting, we will promptly notify you. 2020 Regional MeetingsOpen Registration: All remaining regional meetings for 2020 have been canceled |
Guide to the 2017 AAR Annual Meeting in Boston
ANNUAL MEETING OVERVIEWThe Annual Meetings are cohosted by the American Academy of Religion (AAR) and the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL), making it the largest yearly convention of scholars in the fields of religious studies and theology. Combined, there are over 1,200 academic sessions offered by the AAR, SBL, and other related scholarly organizations.
The sessions, breakfasts, and receptions at this year’s Annual Meetings will be held in the Hynes Convention Center, Sheraton Boston, Marriott Copley Place, Westin Copley Place, Hilton Back Bay, Fairmont Copley Plaza, and Park Plaza. All locations are within walking distance of each other. (The Park Plaza is 0.5 miles from the Fairmont.) Registration, the Exhibit Hall, and the Employment Center will be in the Hynes Convention Center. Facilities Addresses
Noteworthy in 2017Print Your Name Badge Prior to ArrivalCheck your e-mail in early November for a special link to print your name badge and tote bag ticket to bring with you to Boston. In an effort to cut down on lines for badge reprints at registration, Annual Meeting name badges will no longer be sent via postal mail. Print and cut out both your name badge (two-sided with hotel emergency numbers on the back) and tote bag ticket before you leave home. When you arrive at the Hynes Convention Center, use your preprinted tote bag ticket to pick up a tote bag at the Tote Bag Window, located in the AAR and SBL registration area on the second level of the Hynes Convention Center, outside Exhibit Halls CD. Also in the registration area, you can pick up your lanyard and your name badge holder. Slip in your preprinted name badge in the badge holder and you're good to go. No need to stand in line at the Registration desk. If you do not receive your name badge e-mail by November 13, please e-mail reg@aarweb.org to have it resent. Free Wi-Fi!The Hynes Convention Center will have complimentary Wi-Fi located throughout the meeting spaces. All the hotels have Internet access available in their business centers or guest rooms. The hotels may charge a fee to access the Internet in the guest rooms, and that information can be found on the Hotel Amenity Chart. Mobile AppAAR and SBL Annual Meetings will have a free mobile app available. With the app, you can create and customize your schedule, make notes about sessions, search for participants, share your schedule with friends and colleagues, get interactive information about exhibitors, and much more. Schedule changes are downloaded in the background when Internet access is available. See the AAR website for information on downloading the free app. No smartphone or tablet? No worries: there is also a web-based version of the Mobile App. For questions or help using the app, see the friendly onsite tech gurus at the Mobile App help desk in the Registration area in the Hynes Convention Center. Hotel UpdateOctober 19 is the deadline for the special conference rates. After that date, we can no longer accept reservations for housing, and you'll need to make your own arrangements. Should you want to stay at one of our conference hotels, they are not obligated to honor the special conference rates that were in effect prior to October 19. Contact reg@aarweb.org for up-to-date information. Plenary Sessions on "Religion and the Most Vulnerable"
For a complete list of other sessions focused on the presidential theme, see the Annual Meeting Program Book. AAR Full Paper Submission Program
Gender-Neutral Restrooms
Instagram Photo Contest
How to Play 1. First, make sure your Instagram profile is Public so we can see your picture.
Photo Contest 1. Take a photo of the Exhibit Hall Entrance, Annual Meeting Tote Bag or Program Book. Not sure what Instagram is or how to upload it? Check it out at Instagram.com or upload it to your mobile device through Google Play or iTunes App Store. And follow us on Instagram at #AARSBL17 to see updates throughout the meeting. Complimentary Coffee BreaksComplimentary coffee will be served in the back of the Exhibit Hall on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 .pm., and on Tuesday morning at 8:30 a.m. BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETINGRemember to Pack:
Plan your Travel to the Annual MeetingMost attendees are coming to Boston by airplane and we have discounted flight information, airport transfer options, and general getting-around-the-city information here. Preparing Your Annual Meeting PresentationAAR has several helpful tips on preparing your presentation. Audiovisual RequestsAudiovisual equipment rental costs have increased dramatically at the Annual Meeting. Recognizing that the majority of Annual Meeting audiovisual presentations involve PowerPoint or computer presentations, the AAR chose to support this trend by providing a limited number of meeting rooms with LCD projectors that can be connected to a participant’s personal laptop. AAR does not provide computers, but encourages participants to bring their personal or departmental laptops or communicate with members of the same session in order to share computer use. A podium microphone will be placed in all rooms set for 60 people or more. If your session is scheduled in the Convention Center, free wireless Internet access will be available. However, in order to ensure quality, video presentations should be downloaded to your laptop and not streamed over the Wi-Fi, as it may not be capable (depending on the number of users) of reliably supporting high-bandwidth applications. We do not provide laser pointers. If you requested audiovisual equipment, you will receive an e-mail confirmation in October with details. Late AV Requests After July 31, each presenter who requests AV will be charged a $100 fee per request. After September 30, AV costs are the responsibility of the participant, and they will be directed to the AV provider to pay the actual cost of the equipment requested. Before the Meeting To check your audiovisual request at this year's Annual Meeting, check here and view your session information. During the Meeting If your room does not have the requested equipment or it is malfunctioning, contact PRG Audiovisual. The PRG Audiovisual offices are located at: Hynes Convention Center – 206 If you plan to use a Macintosh computer, please bring any cables or adapters you own, as these are not standard across all types of Macintoshes, and we have a limited supply. If you plan on using a Mac and do not own adapters or cables, stop by the PRG Audiovisual office in the appropriate facility well before your session to let them know of your need. They will then make sure that their audiovisual techs have the correct adapter ready for your session. If there is a need to add equipment not originally requested, participants may do so at their own expense by contacting the audiovisual company. Costs for onsite equipment can be prohibitive. Contact the Annual Meeting Team if you have additional questions. Getting Around BostonThere are several transportation options to travel between the airport and your hotel, as well as around downtown Boston. Airport Transfers – Boston International Airport (BOS)There are a few ways to get from the airport on (mostly) the subway. The Silver Line is a bus, but all other colored routes on this page are trains: http://mbta.com/uploadedfiles/Documents/Schedules_and_Maps/Rapid%20Transit%20w%20Key%20Bus.pdf. Please use a mapping program or contact your hotel to determine the best route to get there. A one-way fare is $2.75. More information can be found here: https://www.massport.com/logan-airport/to-and-from-logan/public-transportation. The Back Bay Logan Express runs from the Hynes Convention Center to the airport every twenty minutes and costs $7.50. It is a blue shuttle with orange accents. More information is here: https://www.massport.com/logan-airport/to-and-from-logan/logan-express/back-bay. Taxis are available at each terminal on Arrivals Level (curbside). Fares to the Hynes average at $33, plus tip, not during rush hour. Shared-Ride Car Service (such as Uber or Lyft) Boston (BOS) is one of the airports that allows shared-ride services to pick up at the airport. Each of the four terminals has a designated area for pickup. See here for more information: https://www.massport.com/logan-airport/to-and-from-logan/app-ridetnc. An average fare is $22 not riding during rush hour. Shared-Ride Vans See Shuttle Services recommended by Boston Logan Airport here: https://www.massport.com/logan-airport/to-and-from-logan/ground-transportation/. Parking at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention CenterThe Convention Center is located at 900 Boylston Street. Within a three-block walk of the Hynes Convention Center are numerous parking garages totaling over 4,400 spaces. There is also limited meter parking available around the Hynes and adjacent streets. See here for nearby garages. AT THE ANNUAL MEETINGAnnual Meeting ShuttlesThere will be a shuttle to and from select hotels: Courtyard Downtown, Doubletree Downtown, Hyatt Regency, Park Plaza, and the Revere Hotel to the Hynes Convention Center. Attendees who book at one of these hotels through the AAR & SBL registration process will receive a 7-day T (subway) pass on a first-come, first serve basis. AAR & SBL Shuttle Hours
If you have difficulty walking long distances, please see our Accessibility Information page for information on distances between buildings and on scooter rental. Name Badges & RegistrationRegistration is located on the second level of the Hynes Convention Center, outside Exhibit Halls CD.
Program BookThe Program Book is your primary guide to all academic sessions, breakfasts, and receptions officially sponsored at the Annual Meetings. Program Books were mailed to everyone who registered before August 29 and did not check the "Do not send me a Program Book" box. Thank you to the AAR registrants who opted out of receiving a Program Book and the additional registrants who opted not to have a Program Book printed for them at all. This is a tremendous help in our quest to make the Annual Meeting greener! Last minute changes to the program will be highlighted in the At-A-Glance printed supplement, which will be available in the Registration area. You can search for sessions of interest in other ways, as well. The AAR has posted a searchable Program Book online where you are able to search for sessions by keyword and session type. Visit http://papers.aarweb.org/program_book. PLEASE BRING YOUR PROGRAM BOOK TO BOSTON WITH YOU, AS WE HAVE A LIMITED SUPPLY. The Annual Meetings Mobile App is the most functional and up-to-date way to search for specific topics, speakers, and program unit sessions. Hours of OperationAAR and SBL Program Schedule AAR, SBL, and Additional Meeting Sessions will be held in the Hynes Convention Center, Sheraton Boston, Marriott Copley Place, Westin Copley Place, Hilton Back Bay, Fairmont Copley Plaza, and Park Plaza.
Hotel Locations and Floor PlansPrimary Meeting Locations Most AAR and SBL sessions will be held in three locations: Hynes Convention Center, Sheraton Boston, and Marriott Copley Place. The Employment Center will be located at the Hynes Convention Center. Additional meetings and receptions will be primarily held at the Westin Copley Place, Hilton Back Bay, Fairmont Copley Plaza, and Park Plaza. Location Map of Convention Center and Hotels Floor Plans for the Convention Center and Hotels Street Addresses of Meeting Facilities Emergency Telephone Extensions at HotelsThe SBL and AAR seek to foster an environment at our Annual Meetings that is safe, inclusive, and respectful. If you or someone you know is in imminent danger or experiencing verbal or physical assault, or in case of any other emergency in one of the Annual Meeting venues, contact security in the building in which you require assistance. In addition, trauma counselors are available by calling (855) 484-2846 from a US telephone.
Exhibit HallA priority for anyone attending the Annual Meetings is a visit to the Exhibit Hall. The Exhibit Hall is located on the second floor of the Hynes Convention Center in Exhibit Halls CD. The AAR booth is #2604. For an index of exhibitors and the Exhibit Hall floor plan, see here. Why visit the Exhibit Hall?
Search It Out! The kiosk can also display the Exhibit Hall map with a complete list of publishers for reference. You can find a list of exhibitors and an Exhibit Hall map in the Program Book, the At-A-Glance, the Mobile App, and here. Employment Center
Fun, Games, and Helping Others At the Annual MeetingThere are chances to play a game or win a prize at the Annual Meeting! Don't miss out on the fun. Enter to Win in the Exhibit Hall! Plan to visit the AAR booth (#2604) and drop off your business card to enter three drawings:
Instagram Photo Contest
Contribute to the Annual Meeting Soap/Donation Drive
The AAR and SBL are partnering with the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority’s Conventions C.A.R.E. program to donate goods to the diverse neighborhoods of historic Boston, where needs are sometimes great. By donating useable materials to our Conventions C.A.R.E. program, you’ll be helping scores of non-profit organizations throughout the city and the region. Not only will your materials be put to good re-use, but you’ll be cutting back on your event’s environmental impact by diverting waste from local landfills. Plus, it saves you the time and expense of shipping unneeded goods back home. The Convention Center already recycles and donates abandoned property. With your help, we can do even more. It’s easy. Look for the bright blue bins spread around the show floor at “Product Donation Stations.” The bins are marked with the “CONVENTIONS C.A.R.E.” logo. Then, simply leave your clean, useable, non-perishable donations in the bin. They can include clothing, convention bags, medical supplies, non-perishable food, office products, and toiletries. We’ll take over the rest, arranging the assignment and transport of your donations. The program supports several local non-profits, directly benefiting some of the neediest residents in their community. By working together, we can show Boston charities that the AAR and SBL care. Meeting and Networking with ColleaguesLook Who's Coming and Social Media The AAR website allows you to search for friends and colleagues who might be attending the Annual Meetings. Go to www.aarweb.org/look-whos-coming to see who’s coming to the Annual Meetings! Take your Annual Meetings experience to the web! Use #aarsbl17 to continue the conversation on Twitter or the AAR’s Facebook page. See here for social media best practices at the meeting. LGBTIQ Mentoring Lunch (A18–146) Contingent Faculty Luncheon: What Can Non-tenure-track Faculty Career Growth Look Like? (A18–145) Applied Religious Studies Breakfast (A19–2) Women's Mentoring Luncheon (A19–141) Connecting Conversations Luncheon (A20–149) Students Drop By to Say "Hello!" Social Media Best PracticesAAR and SBL promote the academic study of religion and the bible across many channels: print, online, and the Annual Meeting. Social media outlets, especially "live-tweeting," can be an important means for continuing the conversation beyond the audience of an Annual Meeting session. These guidelines are intended to craft a forum that encourages an open discussion while maintaining the integrity of the scholar's work.
Annual Meeting ServicesKiddieCorp childcare is a service subsidized by the AAR and SBL for members with families attending the Annual Meeting. The childcare preregistration deadline is October 20. For a restaurant guide for great dining choices in Boston, especially the Back Bay neighborhood, see here. A Food Court will be available in the Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium of the Hynes Convention Center, adjacent to the Exhibit Hall. For lunch restaurants nearby, see here. The Prudential Center, which is attached to the Hynes Convention Center, the Sheraton Boston, and the Marriott Copley Place, houses a number of restaurants that can provide fast and inexpensive meal options for attendees. Need to check your e-mail or use the web? Free Wi-Fi is available in the Hynes Convention Center. All the hotels have Internet access available in their business centers or guest rooms. The hotels may charge a fee to access the Internet in the guest rooms, and that information can be found on the Hotel Amenity Chart.
Nursing mothers are welcome to nurse wherever you feel comfortable feeding your child. If you are looking for a more private space, you can use the conference room on the Third Level of the Sheraton Boston. Please give any lost items to the staff at the Registration desk located in the Hynes Convention Center lobby outside Halls CD. On Tuesday at noon, all items will be turned over to Convention Center security. AccessibilityAAR members with disabilities or any attendees who may have difficulty getting around the meeting are encouraged to note this during registration. AAR will make every reasonable attempt to accommodate you, whether by arranging services such as sign language interpreters, assigning accessible hotel room space, or through the AAR’s taxi reimbursement policy. You can visit the Annual Meeting accessibility web page to see a complete list of ways AAR will work with you to make your Annual Meeting accommodate your needs. Please contact Soraya Shahrak, Associate Director of Meetings, at SShahrak@aarweb.org if you have any questions. Detailed accessibility information for the Boston meeting is here: https://www.aarweb.org/annual-meeting/accessibility-information-for-annual-meetings. Taxi ReimbursementAAR and SBL will reimburse attendees with disabilities for the cost of a private taxi or ride-share service to travel between official AAR meeting locations, if needed. To receive the reimbursement, please submit all receipts with a letter detailing the nature of your disability, your departure point, and your destination. Only travel between official Annual Meeting locations (i.e., hotels and convention center) will be covered. Questions may be directed to SShahrak@aarweb.org. Wheelchair or Electric Scooter RentalAttendees who wish to rent a wheelchair or electric scooter for use during the Annual Meeting are welcome to contact the following provider to arrange for service: Boston Orthopedic Respiratory (http://www.aaawheelchair.com/index.html) is offering attendees a special rate for the Annual Meeting. Please be sure to tell them that you are with the AAR & SBL to get the special rate of $105 for a five-day rental for an electric scooter. Manual wheelchairs are available as well—please inquire as to price. Boston Orthopedic Respiratory will deliver and pick up the wheelchair or scooter to your hotel for $20. Please call Seval Yelaun at 617-337-5133 or 800-854-6370 or 857-258-0080 to make individual arrangements. They suggest that you make your reservation as soon as possible to ensure availability. Onsite Accessibility Issues Should you encounter an accessibility issue at the Annual Meeting, please notify the hotel’s front desk so they can get the issue resolved. You may also report the problem at the AAR and SBL Registration Desk located in the Hynes Convention Center lobby, outside of Halls CD, Friday 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday through Monday 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Tuesday 8:00 to 10:00 a.m., or email reg@aarweb.org. Need Help?If you have questions about the program, your membership, or events at the Annual Meeting, the staff at the AAR Member Services desk, located in the Registration area of the Hynes Convention Center, will be able to assist you. You can also seek help at the AAR booth #2604 in the Exhibit Hall. You might find the answer to your question on the Annual Meetings Frequently Asked Questions page. BEYOND THE ANNUAL MEETING – Things to Do in BostonToursThe following Annual Meeting tours still have space available. For up-to-date information, e-mail .
Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. To see a description of each tour, see this PDF. To sign up for a tour, e-mail reg@aarweb.org. Sorry, no refunds. RestaurantsFor a restaurant guide for great dining choices in Boston, especially the Back Bay neighborhood, see here. A Food Court will be available in the Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium of the Hynes Convention Center, adjacent to the Exhibit Hall. For lunch restaurants nearby, see here. The Prudential Center, which is attached to the Hynes Convention Center, the Sheraton Boston, and the Marriott Copley Place, houses a number of restaurants that can provide fast and inexpensive meal options for attendees. Jewish Shabbat meals and services will be available at the conference. Advance registration and payment is required for meals. For information or to register, please e-mail shabbat@sbl-site.org Show Your BadgeThe city of Boston is offering discounts at local restaurants and attractions! For a list of all the offers, see here. Places of WorshipThere is a nondenominational prayer and reflection space located at Sheraton Boston – Exeter B. For a list of local religious services, see here. Please note, this is not a comprehensive list of places of worship in Boston. |
Join AAR President Eddie Glaude for a plenary panel on Protecting the Vulnerable on Campus (A18–301); his presidential address on Religion and the Most Vulnerable (A18–410); a plenary address by Deval Patrick (A18–409); a plenary panel on Recolonizing the Academy Under a Trump Presidency (A19–304); a plenary panel on Forcibly Displaced Syrians and Iraqis: What to Know about the Crisis and What You as a Religion Scholar Can Do (A20–153); and a plenary address by Linda Sarsour (A20–147). Session descriptions, participants, and times are 
The 
ALL PERSON, ALL ACCESS restrooms are available on the third floor of the Hynes Convention Center, the third floor of the Sheraton Boston, the fifth floor of the Marriott Copley Place, and the third floor of the Hilton Back Bay. AAR recognizes that there are members of our community who may feel more comfortable in an all-gender restroom. The all-gender restrooms are marked with special signage during the Annual Meetings.
AAR and SBL will be hosting an Instagram photo contest during the 2017 Annual Meetings in Boston! Start looking for the items listed below, snap a photo with your phone, iPad or other device, and upload it to Instagram using the following hashtag #AARSBL17. Winners will be chosen daily. Valuable prizes such as gift cards and 2018 Annual Meeting registrations will be available to the winners!
As the learned society representing the most comprehensive membership in the field of the study of religion, the American Academy of Religion sponsors a variety of services that assist individuals and institutions in the employment process. For any questions related to employment services, please contact 